[lbo-talk] Canada-US health care (was Vive La France!)

[jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net]

> Jim Westrich wrote:
> 
> >I suspect from your tone ("insurance co. vampires") that you do think that
> >insurance companies are a (the?) main problem.  I admit my perception is
> >clouded by the fact that insurance companies and even large purchasers of
> >insurance are relatively weak where I live.  It is also hard not to listen to
> >stories like Doug's mom's $21,000 broken arm and not see that as the major
> >problem.
> 
> I haven't looked at the literature in a long time, but as I remember 
> it, the U.S. health system stood out as the world's most expensive on 
> every score - cost of drugs, fees, equipment, hospital stays, 
> administration, everything. There's no single culprit - they're all 
> guilty.
> 
> Doug

I think it's easier to imagine Government reigning in costs if a Govt. 
backed single-payer system was set up. Right now there is less 
incentive to intervene. It wouldn't solve every problem but it would be a 
big step forward in my opinion. Markets and medicine do not mix in my 
opinion.

John Thornton