U.S. Health Care Bill Twice the Cost Other Nations Pay

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/01/14/us-health-care-bill-twice-the-cost-other-nations-pay/

by Mike Hall, Jan 14, 2008

The annual $2 trillion bill for American health care is twice the combined cost for other developed countries that provide health care for all—countries that, not coincidentally, also have higher rates of unionization.

Speaking to a Center for American Progress gathering on the nation’s health care crisis, Communications Workers of America (CWA) president Larry Cohen told the group:

“We need a collective approach and a collective strategy. We need to create a social and political movement in this country to deal with health care, and that’s what we’re doing.”



The conference focused on the issue of retirees younger than 65 who don’t have—or could lose—employer-paid health insurance and could be years away from qualifying for Medicare.

Much of the discussion centered on the use of Voluntary Employee Benefit Associations (VEBAs). Cohen praised the UAW and GM, in particular, because their VEBA agreement includes $15 million from the company to create a National Institute for Health Reform that will work to find solutions to the health care crisis. But Cohen added that VEBAs are not a long-term solution.

We would say that VEBA is a tactic, not a strategy. The strategy has got to be health care for all Americans.

The unions of the AFL-CIO are mobilizing a 1 million-member health care team to work with a broad alliance of grassroots organizations to win progressive reform and give millions more union members the information and tools to become active players and health care voters.

The AFL-CIO’s Health Care Campaign centers on providing high quality, affordable health care for all that:

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Builds on what’s best about American health care.
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Controls costs.
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Makes sure everyone gets high-quality health care as good as or better than they have now.
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Covers preventive care.
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Lets people choose their own doctors and other providers.
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Government is watchdog on costs, quality and fairness and offers the choice of a public alternative to private insurance.
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Divides responsibility among employers, government and individuals.

Click here to learn more: http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/

[asdjrocky]

1. But it's the best health care in the world!

That's what they keep telling me, it's the best in the world, no wonder it's so expensive.

Just wish I could afford some.

[brentspeak]

2. Universal health care...now.

[WeCanWorkItOut]

3. $400 billion excess on hospitals/outpatient/imaging. $100 billion excess on admin

and $25 billion excess due to a slightly sicker population.

That's from a site recommended by Paul Krugman, the McKinsey Global Institute.
http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/rp/healthcare/accounting_cost_healthcare.asp

Click on "View interactive graphic" (inside a box on the lower right),
and there's a very simple survey of where the excess spending goes.
It also shows where we underspend, like long-term care.

Like Krugman, I recommend this. It's so important that pro-labor people
have a good picture of the whole story.