Let’s debate health care

By F. George Tucker, North Las Vegas

Thursday, July 27, 2017 | 2 a.m.

I would like to address a recent letter about having an honest discussion on the cost of a single-payer for the nation’s health care.

People I’ve talked to in this country seem to be unaware that most democracies treat health care as a right. People living in those counties are entitled to health care regardless of income.

What do they cost?

If you look in Wikipedia under: Health System/International comparisons, you will find data, in the form of a chart, for the U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Britain and other democracies, which show the per capita cost and life expectancy. Life expectancy, I would assume, is a broad measure of the relative efficiency of a nation’s health system.

The conclusions from this data are startling, at least to me. First, the per capita cost in the U.S. is highest and nearly 60 percent more than the average. Secondly, the life expectancy is the worst of those cited. The obvious overall conclusion is that national health services provide better service at a lower cost.

How do they do it?

The systems vary. Britain is free at the point of service. I believe Germany operates an insurance system where subsidies are given to lower income citizens. Since I don’t know the details of each system I think it’s about time we, in the U.S., had such a debate. I agree with the writer of the letter in that respect.