Yep, America\’s health care system is unnecessarily terrible

After reading this book, no matter where you stand on the political spectrum, you have to admit that our government must immediately change our wasteful, exclusive, and life-costing health care system.It\’s a hard book to read, just in thinking about the stupidity and sadness of the ongoing debate on health care, but it is clearly written and helped me understand the differences between health care systems across the globe.This is another must-read book for this election year and here are my notes to get you interested.

700,000 American go bankrupt because of medical bills every yearHow many people go bankrupt in France? Zero. Canada? Zero. Britain? ZeroAmerica spends more money on health care than any other country but quality is significantly worseHealth Care Models

• • The Bismarck Model- named after Prussian Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck who invented welfare state during unification of Germany in 19th century, private health insurance plans paid for by employers and employees by payroll deduction, Germany, France, Japan several others have this model
  • The Beveridge Model-named after William Beveridge who inspired Britain\’s National Health Service, health care financed through tax payments, medical treatment is a public service, no medical bills, Britain, Spain
  • The National Health Insurance Model-private health care providers but the payer is a government-run insurance program that every citizen pays into, Canada
  • The Out of Pocket Model- the rich get health care the poor can\’t, many countries

America is a mix of all four health care systems; for most people under 65-Bismarck Model; for Native-Americans, Veterans, military personnel, who never get a medical bill-Beveridge Model; for those over 65-National Health Insurance Model; for 45 million uninsured Americans- the out of pocket modelMany employers don\’t provide health care because it puts them at a cost disadvantageNo matter how much money is spent on health care, the doctors and hospitals will argue that it is not enough