Health Care Cost: Channeling Bob Somerby
Total spending on health care, per person, 2007
United States: $7290
United Kingdom: $2992
Italy: $2686
Spain: $2671
Japan: $2581 (2006)
It speaks for itself. We're being screwed and there's no serious savings in sight. Daily Howler.
United States: $7290
United Kingdom: $2992
Italy: $2686
Spain: $2671
Japan: $2581 (2006)
It speaks for itself. We're being screwed and there's no serious savings in sight. Daily Howler.
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The American cash cow. It's the gift that's too dumb to do anything but keep on giving. Reminds me of that vid of TK berating the Republicans on raising the minimum wage: "When does the greed stop?" (at about 4:30 into vid.)
September 10, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why did the president mention Intermountain Health care and Geisinger Clinic last night? What makes them different?
If everyone could their health care from Intermountain how much would we spend?
September 10, 2009 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
A recent McKinsey report trying to explain it:
http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/US_healthcare/
September 10, 2009 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brent James from Intermountain:
September 10, 2009 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
There was link there I swear. Anyway google: Ways and Means testimony April 2009
September 11, 2009 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Total amount wasted on US health care administration per person per year: somewhere between $1800 and $2400. Which is about what Japan spends on health care.
September 10, 2009 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
nonsense.
September 11, 2009 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I should clarify. Calling it administration is nonsense. I think OECD says about 14% of total spending in the US is on administration.
About 1/3 or more of our spending is wasted but mostly on medical care that makes us no better off.
September 11, 2009 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
We could argue forever about admin costs but the real difference is the profit motive and having to answer to shareholders.
These insurers used to be mutual companies, owned by policyholders.
Now they have to weigh the provision of health care against 'beating the Street's consensus EPS estimate' every quarter.
The Fed could offer the mgmts of these companies low interest loans to finance an MBO (mgmt buyout) of shareholders at a 50% premium to current share prices for THE WHOLE INDUSTRY for less than $200billion!
They would still be privately-mamged companied without the current built-in conflict (policyholders vs. shareholders)
September 11, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
US Military Budget Vs. Other US Priorities (2009 budget)
----------------------($billions) % fed funds
Military.........................(742) 30.9%
Cost of Past Wars........................(324) 13.5%
Total military percent..........................44.4%
Health care......................................(472) 19.7%
Responses to Poverty...................(284) 11.8%
Interest Non-Military Fed. Debt..(261) 10.9%
Government Operations................(166) 7%
Education and jobs...........................(52) 2.2%
Science, Energy, & Environment...(60) 2.5%
Non-Military Int. Programs..............(37) 1.5%
September 10, 2009 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
It just takes a lot of money to find Osama bin Laden.
September 11, 2009 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
We're getting close. Just supplemental of $80 billion ought to do it.
September 11, 2009 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just one more supplemental...Ugh...
September 11, 2009 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's probably on Mars by now. $80B won't cut it.
September 11, 2009 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now there's the GOP bumper sticker.
I send $4000 ever year to insurance in return for nothing! Don't even try to stop me!
Oh, this is a TPM post!
September 11, 2009 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink