So Much for the 'Best Health-Care System in the World'

[babylonsister]

https://politicalwire.com/2025/08/08/so-much-for-the-best-health-care-system-in-the-world/

So Much for the ‘Best Health-Care System in the World’
August 8, 2025 at 8:20 am EDT By Taegan Goddard

Jonathan Chait: “Here’s a piece of Republican rhetoric that used to be ubiquitous but that you never hear anymore: America has the best health-care system in the world.”

“Republican politicians liked this line because it helped them dismiss the idea that the system needed major reform. American health care at its finest offered the most advanced treatments anywhere. Democrats wanted to expand coverage, but why mess with perfection?”

“In Donald Trump’s second term, Republicans haven’t given up their opposition to universal coverage—far from it—but they have mostly stopped singing the praises of American health-care innovation. Indeed, they are taking a meat axe to it, slashing medical-research funding while elevating quacks and charlatans to positions of real power. The resulting synthesis is the worst of all worlds: a system that will lose its ability to develop new cures, while withholding its benefits from even more of the poor and sick.”

[Goonch]

1. ;-{)

[markodochartaigh]

2. The US does not have a health care system.

The US has a profit making system which produces as much profit as possible while producing as little health care as possible as a byproduct.

[Wounded Bear]

3. We don't have a health care system. We have a for profit health care industry...nt

[mopinko]

6. 1 of the reasons it costs so much is that they get paid to fix their mistakes.

recently spent the better part of a year trying to convince docs that there was something seriously wrong w my gi system. they thought i was lying.
ended up w a day in the er, and a 6 hr, middle of the night colon resection, w a week in the hospital. cost- $175k. a month ago i had a 2nd surgery to reverse the ileostomy i shouldnt have needed, w 5 days in hospital. shd have been a non-invasive robotic surgery, w only a 20% chance of that ostomy, and 2 days in the hospital.

there’s big money in medical mistakes.

[leftstreet]

11. +1

[Swede]

4. Their leaders are ghouls and their followers are stupid.

[surfered]

8. Infinite recs on this❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[calimary]

9. Painful image.

And it’s supposed to be. How else can we illustrate what it all means? Cuz THIS is eventually, and ultimately, what it comes down to.

[Irish_Dem]

5. The US rich elite have the best healthcare in the world.

The rest of us not so much.

[multigraincracker]

7. Here are the results and cost compared to other countries. What the F.

https://www.pgpf.org/article/how-does-the-us-healthcare-system-compare-to-other-countries/

[dcmfox]

10. Medellin, Colombia

Is where I retired to..Their system is better in my opinion. I've been there for various reasons..Nothing serious..

I was having stomach issues, no appetite..

They game me the works..Colonoscopy (which you pay separately) It cost 150usd..

I had an MRI test, blood test, checked the kidneys, liver, and even gave me all the test for sexual diseases, which I thought was funny.

Turns out I just had an irritated stomach lining..

The entire bill was 550 dollars.

[IronLionZion]

12. We have the highest prices

GOP gloats that wealthy people from other countries come here sometimes for advanced procedures. They don't want to talk about the many Americans who can't get basic procedures because they can't afford the high prices.

So while some countries with universal health care may experience long waits for some specialists. There are many Americans who will never get the care they need. They wish they could be on some wait list.

[mitch96]

13. Last I looked, we were number 8 in the world... Also we don't have a "health care system"

We have a SICK CARE SYSTEM. . Follow the money...
They don't make money when you are healthy... Just remember. A healthy patient is lost revenue..
.
The take away? Stay healthy. Follow the science to stay healthy..
Trauma care? Accident, gun shot wounds?, We are some of the best... We do that right... If EMS can get you to the trauma center within the "golden hour" you will probably make it..
Cynical? yes.. I've worked in hospitals for over 40 years and have seen it many times..

m

[justaprogressive]

14. System allowed to become failure

is now broke.