HCR: v. NO U

Fifth in a series on health care reform.

T. R. Reid in the Washington Post: 5 Myths About Health Care Around the World

Hat tip for the article goes to a friend of mine on Facebook.

In case something happens to the article, here are the five myths.

1. It's all socialized medicine out there. Sometimes, but not usually.

2. Overseas, care is rationed through limited choices or long lines. NO U. The situation is not really worse in other countries than it is in the United States. Managed care and...gee...not having health coverage limits choices too, even at the cost of your own life. Internationally, the situation is either no worse or substantially better.

3. Foreign health-care systems are inefficient, bloated bureaucracies. NO U. As if the typical American health insurance company was a model of efficiency and compassion. Most people in other countries are way more satisfied with their health care coverage than the typical American who HAS what we would consider good insurance.

4. Cost controls stifle innovation. That's why Japanese labs can still be profitable by charging $98 for an MRI (in the USA this costs you or your insurance $1500). Try again, pal.

5. Health insurance has to be cruel. This one is beneath the dignity of a response, but the Reid demolishes it anyway.

Read it. Now.