The Health Care Debate

There was a great interview with Kathleen Sebelius last night on The Daily Show and it inspired me to dig up some facts on the US health care system:

• According to the CDC, the United States ranked 29th in the world in infant mortality in 2004, compared to 27th in 2000, 23rd in 1990 and 12th in 1960.
• According to the CIA World Factbook, the United States has a life expectancy of 78.1 years, which ranks 50th in the world. That puts us between Wallis and Futuna at #49 and Albania at #51. Other notable entries: Canada - #8, France - #9, UK - #36, South Korea - #40, and Mexico - #71.
  
• National health expenditures in 2008 were expected to rise 6.9%, or double the rate of inflation. In 2007, total spending was $2.4 trillion, representing 17 % of GDP. If trends continue for the next decade, total expenditures will reach $4.3 trillion in 2017, or 20% of GDP. Health care spending accounted for 10.9% of GDP in Switzerland, 10.7% in Germany, 9.7% in Canada and 9.5% in France, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.(source)
• "Although nearly 46 million Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens." (source).
• "A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out-of-pocket medical debt for those who filed for bankruptcy was $12,000. The study noted that 68 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses. Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem."(source)

With the discussion on health care reform in Congress heating up, call your Senators and Representative and tell them what you think.