This is amazing — the English are far healthier than Americans, according to a new study that has stunned health experts. That’s right — the English, they of the bad teeth and bland diets.
They’re not just healthier — that was already known — but healthier by quite a stretch, even though they spend half of what Americans do on health care.
Americans suffer from significantly higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, strokes, lung disease and cancer, no matter what the income or education levels.
Experts aren’t sure what accounts for the difference — higher levels of stress here? Not as much exercise? Or is it all that tea the British drink?
Maybe the British universal health care system, so often derided here, deserves a second look.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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28 Comments
…Then why are there teeth all messed up!?
How does their healthcare system work? Who pays? Is it a universal system?
Randy, the British health care system deserves a third and fourth look, too. American health care is a rip-off. Between insurance companies that spend more than half their administrative costs figuring out how not to pay and HMOs who’s motive is strictly money, our health care system is out of control.
A single payer system seems to be the logical answer, but of course that’s blasphmy to republicans. But has anybody considered what a single payer system would do for American competiveness in the global marketplace? Employer-provided insurance is a unique thing in this country that came about after WWII. There’s nothing sacred about it. Why not have a system that provides health care to everybody and doesn’t penalize business?
Oh, I forgot. Somebody in Canada had to wait for a hip replacement.
I don’t mind a single payer tax supported system in America. We all ready do it to about 1/3 of Americans, might as well go rest of the way and support the working families.
I would only support it one condition. That the government still allow private pratices, clinics, and speciality hospitals for those who want to pay the price to get special treatment beyond government standard health care.
If we force every doctor to accept all patients by government care, I will ademently be against it.
So I don’t mind Universal Health Care so long as doctors can still choose to go private if they wish.
It’s the junk food diet (salt and sugar) and the couch potato mentality that is the problem. The number of diabetics is steadily increasing for the same reason.
Some people think that they can abuse their bodies over the years and when the problems show up, just take a handful of pills. It doesn’t work that way. You will reap what you sow.
The answer is not new. In fact, it is well known. Eat good foods moderately and get off your butt. In doing so you take control of your own health. It’s not the the health care system, but rather your own choices that determine health.
Could the amount of leave time have anything to do with it? The average in Great Britain is 4 weeks annual leave…and the average in the US is less than 2 weeks.
Interesting that people want to make a political issue out of this. Do you really think that the method of paying for health care is the cause of more diabetes or strokes? Hey people…for once maybe politics is not the issue?
Raptor, it is the method of payment that deters folks from GETTING preventative health care.
XXX that is a GREAT POST!!!!!!!!
And outlander, I agree with you too, and also raptor. Williams, you got some good points there too.
Is that the sun I see rising in the west? :)
I need to find the link on medical “tourism” though as relates to Joe Williams’ post.
Many people I know have gone and are going to high end hospitals in Mexico and doing the private pay thing for waaaaaayy less than in the U.S. Very common in Texas, even for dental care.
Private pay luxury care already exists here too, but at a far higher cost.
India, too, is becoming a health care tourism destination.
No matter what is done, there will always be a two-tiered system like Joe Williams is describing.
I like the idea of including everyone in on the first tier. This should not be a problem for the wealthiest country in the history of the World.
XXX, is definitely correct, a large portion of managed care budgets/efforts are aimed at denying care. That is just absurd. We can surely do better than this.
Outlander is also correct that preventative health care is the best kind. I would remind him though, that not all health care outcomes are based solely on “choices” – sometimes **it happens even to the most diligent practioners of exercise and good diet.
XXX–
Great post. We get told that we have the “greatest medical care in the world” so much by . . . uh . . . the health care industry, we believe it.
Treatment is good, IF you can afford it. Preventative care is minimal to non-existant except for vaccines.
Some other factors about England and Europe in general: they walk places. So do people in major cities in the US, and they too are in better shape.
Someone should do a cause-and-effect study, the bigger the car, the fatter the people.
KFG:I heard on NPR, that a San Diego Blue Cross/Blue Shield was having all non-speciality and non-emergent medical care done in Tijuana – at considerable savings to everybody. Patients were happy with the care also.
If not already true today, the cost of airfare AND medical care in India, will be a better deal for U.S. citizens.
DD, I had a friend who recently went to Mexico for bariatric surgery. Her health insurance wouldnt pay, calling it elective surgery, so she went shopping.
With airfare and a week stay in a luxury hotel room for two, right across the street from the doc, it was about $20,000 cheaper than it was in the u.s.a. She got great care and it was a very successful surgery.
She has since lost 100lbs. You think her health insurance carrier wont reap the benefits of THAT?
We just think medical care in other countries is inferior. Here is a clue. People with REAL money, like celebs, go out of the country to DUBAI for medical care. Not because it is cheaper, certainly the money means nothing to them, but because the care is BETTER.
But like XXX said, someone in Canada wasnt happy with their doc or had to wait for a hip replacement. Damn their system anyway. Certainly that never happens HERE.
Of course we couldnt change our system. Too many people like it (cha ching cha ching) just the way it is!
The British Health-care System: If we make you wait long enough you’ll lose your job, get kicked out of your house or just die while waiting to see a doctor.
It works.
Raptor, you don’t get 4 weeks off a year? You need to look for a GOOD job.
There’s too much money flowing to Washington (translate: into politicians pockets) for universal health care to happen anytime soon. But I have some serious questions about the morallity of our current system. How does the richest nation on earth justify the fact that over 45% of the population doesn’t have health insurance? Why is first line care the emergency room for almost half the population?
I wonder what Jesus thinks about it. (I have a pretty good guess)
The following is from a e-newsletter I get:
“Small Business Health Care Proposal Threatens Access to Quality Care for Patients and Older WorkersAARP, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN) and the American Diabetes Association are working together to defeat a proposal expected to be voted on in the US Senate in early May that could make health care coverage more expensive for sicker or older workers and eliminate coverage protections for important health screenings and treatments for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening or chronic illnesses.
“These leading health and consumer organizations previewed a joint national advertising effort that will help educate voters about negative effects of the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006 (S. 1955). Sponsored by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) the bill could make it harder for workers age 50 and older to get a job that provides health insurance, among other things.
“In addition, health advocates worry about the long-term effects this bill will have on citizens nationwide, as it would preempt state guarantees of coverage for health benefits such as mammography, cancer screenings, emergency care, mental health services, and diabetes supplies and education.
“The bill would allow any insurer to sell health policies that bypass state consumer protections requiring coverage for cancer screenings and treatments, diabetes supplies and education, well-child care and immunizations, maternity care, emergency services, and mental health care.
“By doing so, Congress would partly undercut the states’ traditional role of regulating the business of insurance, such as setting requirements for what benefits should be covered and how insurance should be priced. The bill would let insurance companies sell health policies that do not meet state requirements, such as fairness in pricing for those who are older and those who are sicker.
“American Diabetes Association CEO Lynn Nicholas said, ‘Forty-six states currently require state-regulated insurers to cover diabetes supplies, medication and treatment. S.1955, however, would allow small business health plans to bypass these vital coverage regulations. This would be devastating to millions of Americans with diabetes to whom this assurance of coverage has been a lifeline, not a luxury.’”
My question is – who would be interested in seeing this happen? Insurance companies and Managed Care Organizations – that’s who.
And don’t ya love that Rove name:”Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006″? “Clear Skies Initiative” – anybody?
It’s our lifestyle. Americans eat too many calories and processed and fast foods, there is more pollution, sedenary lifestyles, and way too much stress. Just look at the number of obese kids in this country, it’s a national disgrace, but parents continue to provide TVs, video games, junk food, and drive their kids everywhere. Thank God, companies are finally pulling soda out of the schools, the candy and junk food need to go, too.American’s are too fat, don’t exercise enough, and eat all the wrong things. It’s no one’s fault but our own, you can’t blame the health care system for it.
Saw an interesting study not too long ago that laid our poor health out to corn.
Short version: corn is subsidized and thus too inexpensive, and this coupled with Westerner’s preference for Sweet (in the sweet, sour, savory, spicy set of taste attributes) has led processed food mfg’ers to add cheap corn sweetener to nearly every non-fresh item we buy in our grocery stores today.
This guy had an amazing set of numbers backing up his theory, too. It certainly sounded convincing.
One thing he said stuck with me: 150 years ago the sweetest thing in a frontier diet, outside cane sugar, was fresh fruit (fructose). Nowadays most Americans find almost all fresh fruit to be one of the least sweet things they eat.
Interesting theory, I’ll try to find it again.
Flike, corn is responsible for depleting the Ogallala more than anything else.
Check out the Prarie Writers Circle with the Land Institute. They have some really interesting stuff about how our lust for corn is decimating the environment.
I believe this guy mentioned that one of the reasons corn is too cheap is its cost fails to capture the water needed to grow it. Especially to irrigate it.
Corn is a great vegetable, but the Big Ag version we eat now is something less than great, and may be killing us and our savings.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5336252
Obviously I did not “see” a study, I heard instead an interview with an author. The book in question is called “The Omnivore’s Dilemma.”
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594200823/qid=1146763611/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9089257-1139815?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
Great posts Flike! Check out the Prairie Writers Circle at the Land Institute.
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/03/01/3d10ac4f88953
KFG, Purple Chicken.
KFG, PKFC
As far as I’m concerned, good health care should be the right of every American. And a retired person shouldn’t have to be completely destitute before the government does something to help them.
As long as our government is controlled by medical and pharma lobbyists, ain’t nothing going to change, however.
flike,Now they want us to put that damned corn in our cars. What kind of ailments will be enriching mechanics the same way corn has profited physicians?
My kid sister lives in Canada with her husband and kinder and she will tell you that universal healthcare ain’t all it is cracked up to be.
V.L.R.B!!
Neither is managed health care. We’re slowly moving toward socialized medicine, whether we think it’s a good idea or not.
Several good points on this thread. We live busy harried lives, eat crap because we’re too busy to cook (the markets don’t help: it’s pretty hard to buy products that AREN’T loaded with salt and suger). Our healthcare system is broken.
Good to have you on board, Joe.
And millions of Americans have no insurance, leading naturally to worsening health. Unfortunately–for those who are hostile to any government action for public benefit–a consistently sick portion of the populace has a way of making everyone ELSE sick, too.