Lets Not Forget …
Just a few things to remember in the week that a badly watered-down version of health-care reform (minus the crucial ‘public-option’) might be voted on …
- The US spends much more on health care coverage per person than any other country in the world.
- The US health care system is ranked #37 in the world overall.
- The US is #46 in the world in infant mortality. That means that there are 45 other countries where your baby is more likely to survive past his or her first birthday. For example, a baby born in CUBA is more likely to survive than a baby born in the US.
- The US is #42 in life expectancy (down from #11 two decades ago)
- Men living in Harlem die younger than men living in the poorest city in the world (Bangladesh).
- 72 million Americans have medical debt.
- 2/3 of all US bankruptcies are from medical bills.
- 46 million Americans have no health insurance.
- Premiums of insured people have gone up 131% since 1999.
- 25 million Americans are underinsured—meaning that they have insurance, but it does not protect them adequately.
- 14 thousand Americans lose their health insurance coverage every day.
- There are 4 times as many medical and pharmaceutical lobbyists in Washington as there are members of Congress.
I think the last point goes a long way towards explaining all of the others …
Ellie
