U.S. care not best

Regarding Ross Balano’s letter on wasteful Medicare spending (12/5), I’d like to address his statement that “our health-care system is arguably the best in the world.” Balano believes that if something is repeated often enough it becomes truth. According to recent stats from the World Health Organization, the U.S. ranks 33rd in infant mortality and 38th in life expectancy, behind such economic powerhouses as the Czech Republic.

Conservative think tanks like the National Center for Public Policy Research employ doctors and health insurance professionals to argue these facts because they benefit financially from the status quo. What about the rest of us?

The U.S. is the richest country in the world. Families all across America are denied health coverage on a daily basis. This is unacceptable. If other countries with better infant mortality and life expectancy rates can treat their citizens under a universal health-care system, then surely we can, too.

Elizabeth Warwick
Kansas City

Comments

[Amy Ridenour]

Speaking as the president of the National Center for Public Policy Research, the group Ms. Warwick claims hires researchers who "benefit financially" from the status quo, I'm in a position to say Ms. Warwick has made up "facts' to suit her argument. Our health care system researchers and writers have had PhDs in social sciences and master's degrees in economics, but they have not had MDs and they have not been associated with the insurance industry. Nor have we received contributions from the health insurance industry.

It is regrettable that the Kansas City Star does not fact-check letters to the editor before publishing them. Writers are entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own set of facts.

Amy Ridenour
National Center for Public Policy Research
Washington

[Jim]

Mark, I'm betting you've never even read Krugman, and I'm pretty sure you don't know Elizabeth either.

[Mark Robertson]

It seems obvious that Elizabeth is a follower of leftist "economist" Paul Krugman.
Thankyou.

Mark Robertson
Independence

[Mark Robertson]

The old infant mortality, life expectancy tactic.
On infant mortality, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, Mexican American and white babies in the U.S. have the lowest infant mortality rate(about 6 in 1000 live births), compared with Native American (9) and African Americans (14). Yet Mexican Americans have the least access to health insurance of these groups. A study in the Journal of the "American Medical Association" suggests that Mexican American babies are twice as likely to be born outside hospitals as babies of other groups.
Infant mortality statistics, like life expectancy, reflect a number of factors, such as parental diets, marital status, drug use, crime, and cultural values.
As pointed out in the book "The Cure," where I got most of my other info, judging U.S. health care by infant mortality and life expectancy statistics is like declaring that Cuban democracy is stronger than America's because of voter turnout.
Universal government health care is a catastrophe wherever it is tried. Most of the problems with U.S. health care are because of government involvement. Thankyou.

Mark Robertson
Independence

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Liz some people are denied due to pre-existing conditions. They can receieve coverage but it may have stipulations.
Most states address life threatening medical situations. If you're talking about little Johnny has a runny nose and mommy wants to run to the ER, no that should not be covered. There are more reason that healthcare cost are on the rise, it's not just he providers maximizing profit, it;s the GL insurance to ward of scumbags like John Edwards and the easy money bunch, govt regulation, munchausen biproxy, catalysts like this. It's just not as simple as give everyone health insurance and the world is fixed. Would the recipients of "free" health insurance be willing to sign waivers stating they can not sue the provider if they can not perform miracles? I doubt it.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Buddy let's see how they spin this:

http://www.mcplus.org/

A. Children, ages birth to 19, whose gross family income is up to 300% of the federal poverty level may be eligible. For example, a child (or children) in a family of three making less than $4,150 per month could be eligible for MC+.

That's $49,800 a year, hardly poor. If you are married, good luck getting approved.

And better yet:

The immigration status of parents who are not applying for benefits is not needed.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Buddy she is simply speaking based on opinion not fact. The majority of States do not allow denial of medical services provided they are medically necessary.
The bleeding hearts beleieve that in these other countries healthcare is free, nothing is free, someone pays for it. My father beleievs this free crap too, of course he is retired bum that does not work, so when he gets "free" healthcare at the county hosptial, he thinks he has somehow paid for it. Actually someone else paid for it. They also believe it is a buffet, you can use all you want whenever you want, simply not the case. Many in the UK are bailing to other countries to PAY for thier medical services on their own due to the long waiting lists for services in the UK with their "free' healthcare. I'll tell you who gets denied, married middle class wage earners. My family does not "qaulify" for MC+ but my ex-wife does. I can not qaulify for a BOA Platinum card but she has $50,000 in credit cards available but somehow can not afford her own healthcare.
If our damn taxes were not so exorbatant, most of us would carry our own policies.

[zenozac]

Liz, statistics about the health of a nation are not the same as the care available. Health care is only one (probably small) factor to health.
Take the one factor of obesity in the US compared to say the czech republic. People 100 200 lbs over weight probably add to the mortality rates.

[BuddyT]

Sorry should be "denials".

[BuddyT]

Who and what families are "denied health care" on a "regular basis" Elizabeth? Could you give us some examples of these denails?