> per capita health spending in the US is way higher than in Au (and...
· Comment — Archer T. Ships replied to his own comment. · View on Facebook · Markdown source
> per capita health spending in the US is way higher than in Au (and yes, I'm taking taxes into account), for measurably worse health outcomes. The point is that that the US government healthcare spending per capita _alone_ is greater than the per capita spending by all socialist healthcare systems, save a few (typically Norway, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein). The US has both Medicare (for the aged) and Medicaid (for the poor). And if you turn up at an Emergency department, you can't be refused. So when comparing the US to other countries healthcare systems, you're not comparing a "free market" system to a socialist system, you're comparing two socialist healthcare systems + a varying amount of private care. > Also factor in that many people in the US are simply turned away at the door for being "out of network" or uninsured... which does indeed reduce "average wait times" (by leads to death of the patient). All systems triage care. Socialist systems triage care by making you wait, providing a limited number of options, and reducing quality. You think all of those people on Australian waiting lists survive until they can receive care? Market systems triage by ability and willingness to pay.