Comments on: Terrific Series on Health Care

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:09:28 +0000

The DB’s of the world kinda remind me of Stalin’s famous “you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelette” line about soviet ideology. Even if 18,000 die preventably, hey, look at the long run–we’ve got a “freer market” (whatever that means). And of course he gives no data on the “people in the U.S. who are saved who aren’t elsewhere.” Jingoism or handwaving?

By: DB

DB — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:58:06 +0000

But almost three million people a year die in the US. 18K is unlikely to have a major effect on lifespan, dying of a “treatable” disease doesn’t mean you’d be cured of the disease if it was treated, not everyone with insurance gets treated, and the “18K minus” figure must be balanced against people in the U.S. who are saved who aren’t elsewhere. So, no direct link.

By: Nathan Cortez

Nathan Cortez — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:19:58 +0000

DB, the Institute of Medicine has found that around 18,000 uninsured Americans die every year from treatable conditions. I’d say that’s a direct link between lack of insurance and life expectancy.

By: DB

DB — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:12:25 +0000

Is there even a single legitimate study suggesting that the U.S. healthcare system’s lack of insurance coverage is even a marginally significant factor in our life expectancy? The studies I recall seeing show little relationship in advanced countries between the system and one’s health, because marginal life expectancy is mainly dictated by lifestyle choices, including obesity, violence, drunk driving, risky sexual behavior, and so on.