Do you know the difference between health care and health care coverage?
I see a lot of posts on here saying that we have the best health care in the world and the evidence is that people come here from other countries to get care. I agree that we have the best health CARE in the world.
What is being discussed is health care coverage, not health care. That is, the way health care is paid for.
Do you understand the difference?
Yes. If you have unlimited resources as an American you have the best health care in the world. If you are an ordinary citizen you simply don’t. Even the average health care plan generally does not cover the basics like European systems do. All too often Americans find out just how under insured they are when sickness strikes.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/In-the-Literature/2008/Jun/How-Many-Are-Underinsured–Trends-Among-U-S–Adults–2003-and-2007.aspx
That’s important because when those people are lucky enough to stay healthy they will never see a problem whatsoever just as their fellow countrymen were just fine with their coverage before tradgedy happened.
http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/12538706/detail.html
http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/your_story/my-insurance-company-denied-my-doctors-prescription
http://www.rhonawaxman.com/blog/insurance-company-medical-exam-denied-me-surgery.html
This is the same thing as with the standard of living. Americans have a higher income on average than Americans but more detailed data shows it’s the top 1 percent income earners that’s responsible for the whole difference. Middle clas an poor Americans are much worse of than their European counterparts
That’s ultimately what it is about