http://www.early-retirement.org/for...lthcare-costs-price-or-utilization-43765.html
That article rehashes much of what has been said before and does not add new insights.
For example:
"The crux of the problem: The United States spends far more on health care than do other developed countries.
See Switz - below
"For 40 years, health care costs have grown faster than inflation and wages."
Isn't this the same for college education which plays into the cost of health ins.
Haven't new technologies been added over that time - not apples to apples.
"Lawmakers note that higher health care costs put U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage because they have to pay so much more to insure their employees than do their foreign competitors."
=== Competitive disadvantage (of course) yet if businesses don't pay it directly; they do through higher taxes or higher wages due to their employees paying it. - shell game
"Indeed, among developed countries, the United States is the biggest spender. It spends 52% more on heath per person than the country ranked second, which is Switzerland."
"A true comparison versus other nations would be the different price components.
E.g.
real estate costs
transaction costs - accounting
delinquency rates
personnel costs
Insurance fees
Only when that is done can we understand the differences and make an informed decision.
This is nothing different than trying to understand retirement budgets for a person living in NYC or Roswell, NM."
http://www.early-retirement.org/for...lthcare-costs-price-or-utilization-43765.html
I would add to the above: What was the last war Switz. fought? They don't have veterans.
"The CBO told lawmakers that a 1% reduction in the growth of federal health care spending each year forthe next 20 years would pay for the cost of expanding coverage in the first decade and then provide savings that "exceed that cost in the next decade."
Have we evern know of a large government program that doesn't expand over time? Look at all the Great Society programs.
"Obama economic adviser Christina Romer estimates that if the annual growth rate in health care costs slows by 1.5 percentage points a year -- which she concedes is a high bar -- real GDP could increase by more than 2% in 2020 and by nearly 8% in 2030."
Think about that one for a second - Health cost down 1.5% + taxes up by X equals GDP growth? Only telling part of the story - I think so.
+++++
We live in a consumer society yet when it comes to health care that is forgotten. Sellers have done exhaustive studies on their buyers to find out how to get them to buy their product and price is only one factor. But when it comes to health care only price is mentioned.
I think if we studied the reasons why people don't have health ins. we would find a whole range of answers.