During the recent health care debate, it was pointed out many times that dollars spent doesn’t always lead to the best care. National Geographic created an interesting chart of dollars spent per person in relation to life expectancy. Of the many countries listed, only the U.S. and Mexico don’t provide “socialistic” care for their citizens. The chart can be made readable by taking the link above.
The United States spends more on medical care per person than any country, yet life expectancy is shorter than in most other developed nations and many developing ones. Lack of health insurance is a factor in life span and contributes to an estimated 45,000 deaths a year. Why the high cost? The U.S. has a fee-for-service system—paying medical providers piecemeal for appointments, surgery, and the like. That can lead to unneeded treatment that doesn’t reliably improve a patient’s health.
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