Yes, we, the United States of A-Merry-Ca (copyright the field negro), have the greatest health care in the world — for billionaires, that is. For the rest of us? Have you ever consider taking a medical vacation to that sunny land south of the border? No really. Because a million plus Californians apparently feel the need to seek assistance for the medical conditions in that land we Gringos love to denigrate for its third world status, bad economy and swine flu. You know — Mexico!
Nearly a million Californians, perhaps hundreds of thousands more, cross the border to Mexico every year because they cannot afford the rising cost of health care in the United States, according to UCLA researchers.
The study by the school’s Center for Health Policy Research, published Tuesday in the journal Medical Care, affirms what has long been suspected – that the untamable cost of medicine is forcing many, particularly Latino immigrants, to look outside California for medical and dental care. As casualties from the recession rise and as budget-strapped government programs eliminate health services, more people are expected to head south to fill prescriptions, get teeth fixed or undergo care for chronic illnesses. […]
The number seeking care in Mexico may actually be much larger, because findings are based on 2001 data from the California Health Interview Survey and do not take into account today’s higher rates of unemployment and the increasing rate of the medically uninsured.
It seems a fair trade. They send us their dirt poor unemployed who will work for crap wages and under horrid work conditions and we send them our sick people who can’t afford the best health care system on the planet (according to any right wing conservative ideologue — i.e., Republican — whom you are unfortunate to run into). Greatest health care system, that is, until they lose their health insurance. Or find out that their employer’s HMO plan won’t approve treatment for their life threatening illness. But God forbid we even consider a single payer he;ath care plan, because that would be (cue scary music and Glenn beck narration) socialized medicine! Because we all know where that will lead: the same type of health care system they had in Communist Romania! Really, that’s what the wingnuts (who get valuable op-ed space in their local newspapers) believe.
One breath at a time, America has been sucked into the very same universal health care system that we so strenuously resisted during the Clinton years. It is very similar to the failed government-run system from which the former communist Romania is now struggling to escape.
Because, that of course, is the model for all universal health care systems. Former communist countries whose economies were run into the ground by a corrupt dictator. So much like our situation, isn’t it? Except, there’s one little problem with this argument. If our health care system is so great, why are millions of people choosing to go to Mexico for their health care? Or trying to buy their drugs from Canadian pharmacies? And why was our beloved United States of A-Merry-Ca’s health care system ranked 37th in the world by the World Health organization the last year they did international rankings in 2000? Why is the country of quiche, Chardonnay sippers and surrender monkeys, that evil bastion of socialized single payer health care, i.e., France, ranked number 1? Why, in short do we suck at providing affordable, reliable, universal health care to all our citizens?
All other major industrialized nations provide universal health coverage, and most of them have comprehensive benefit packages with no cost-sharing by the patients. The United States, to its shame, has some 45 million people without health insurance and many more millions who have poor coverage. […]
The United States ranks dead last on almost all measures of equity because we have the greatest disparity in the quality of care given to richer and poorer citizens. […]
We have known for years that America has a high infant mortality rate, so it is no surprise that we rank last among 23 nations by that yardstick. But the problem is much broader. We rank near the bottom in healthy life expectancy at age 60, and 15th among 19 countries in deaths from a wide range of illnesses that would not have been fatal if treated with timely and effective care. […]
[The USA] scored poorly in coordinating the care of chronically ill patients, in protecting the safety of patients, and in meeting their needs and preferences, which drove our overall quality rating down to last place. American doctors and hospitals kill patients through surgical and medical mistakes more often than their counterparts in other industrialized nations. […]
In a comparison of five countries, the United States had the best survival rate for breast cancer, second best for cervical cancer and childhood leukemia, worst for kidney transplants, and almost-worst for liver transplants and colorectal cancer. In an eight-country comparison, the United States ranked last in years of potential life lost to circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases and diabetes and had the second highest death rate from bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. Although several factors can affect these results, it seems likely that the quality of care delivered was a significant contributor. […]
Polls in Europe and North America seven to nine years ago found that only 40 percent of Americans were satisfied with the nation’s health care system, placing us 14th out of 17 countries. […]
. . . Americans face higher out-of-pocket costs than citizens elsewhere, are less apt to have a long-term doctor, less able to see a doctor on the same day when sick, and less apt to get their questions answered or receive clear instructions from a doctor. […]
. . . American primary care doctors lag years behind doctors in other advanced nations in adopting electronic medical records or prescribing medications electronically. This makes it harder to coordinate care, spot errors and adhere to standard clinical guidelines.
In short, when millions of our people flock to Mexico for health care benefits they can’t afford here in the “Greatest Nation on Earth” something is rotten, and it ain’t in Denmark. When we rank last or nearly last in so many categories of medical care and services provided to our citizens we should be deeply ashamed. And when we have 45 million or more Americans without any health care coverage, and millions more (like many of us here) with coverage that costs us thousands of dollars for the right to be denied needed medical treatments and procedures by our health insurance providers, we have a deadly serious problem. Our excessively high health care costs, our lack of universal coverage, and our record of poor health for millions of Americans is not only a drag on our economy, but it creates a public health risk to everyone. For example, with millions of uninsured people unable or unwilling to seek medical care when they become sick, the risk of epidemics and pandemics affecting our entire population is greater than in any other developed country.
And make no mistake. Our health care system is the direct result of choices we made, or that were made for us, by ideological or corrupt politicians and lobbyists for the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. It is the worst of all possible worlds for everyone who isn’t wealthy enough to afford a gold standard health insurance policy. In a country which has decent health care, you don’t see millions of people traveling overseas to third world countries for medical treatment. What we have is a pay to play system. That works just great if you can afford the best care. But for 95% of the population it means that our standard of living and the quality of the lives we lead is in free fall. We spend more and more each year for less and less from our health care system.
So don’t tell me about the evils of socialized medicine. Most of us are already in health care hell right here and now. Counties who have a single payer system do a better job for the health and welfare of their citizens than we in the US of A do. And that, my friends, in a country with the world’s largest economy, is a crime against our humanity.
Yes. Thank you, Steven.
Health care for profit is inhumane. In fact, it kills.
Maybe I missed something. You said middle class but the portion of the article you quoted mentions Latino immigrants who are usually not. I understand that the recession is making more likely for the recently middle class to go south, but that’s not there in the parts of the article quoted.
This article incorporates data from before the recession. With the recent meltdown in the California economy and the highest unemployment rate in the country I think it’s safe to say lots of middle class folks of every race and ethnicity are seeking medical treatment in Mexico. The study, which uses data from 2001, admits it likely understates the number of people traveling to Mexico for medical treatment they can’t afford in America in 2009.
I’m not able to view the whole article due to browser issues. Is there anything there indicating that the immigrants who travel for health care haven’t achieved middle-class status?
(I did see the Kraft Fast-Food advertisement at the head of the health-care story. Very appropriate.)
See my comment below.
From the full article at the Sacramento Bee
Considering this study is based on data before the current economic crisis I don’t think it’s a major leap to suppose that people who lost their health care for whatever reason or who have been denied treatments by their health care insurers would be traveling to Mexico seeking more affordable care for their medical conditions.
Just to be as fair as possible, I removed “middle class’ from the sentence in question. However I have no doubt based on this report that many “middle class” people are likely traveling to Mexico for medical treatment either because they are uninsured or underinsured.
Yes, right. We posted nearly simultaneously last go-round & so I missed your post regarding specifics.
What tends to muddy any discussions of class, in my experience, is the sense that we’re losing these class differentiations — with the wealthy becoming wealthier & the poor becoming everyone else. It’s often difficult to discuss something that’s more a memorialized concept than a reality.
BTW re: traveling for dentistry: a friend went through a number of expensive procedures to install dental implants that, unfortunately, failed badly.
Soon after, he traveled to Peru & was fit for a dental bridge to replace the failed implants. Even given the cost of travel, this worked out well for him & he was spared both further expense & further discomfort.
In the meantime, without proper dental coverage or a travel option, my teeth are literally crumbling in my mouth & there is literally nothing I can do about it.
My teeth too
This is just inexcusable in a country as rich as ours. I had to let my teeth go for many many years when we didn’t have insurance, and I’m definitely paying the price (literally and figuratively) now. And lest anyone think it’s a vanity issue, there are definite health hazards to having infected, crumbling teeth in your mouth.
I have a very close family member who is going through a terrible mental health emergency right now, and because she lost her job and is uninsured, absolutely no one can/will help her. We tried to go through the county mental health agencies and it was a hellish experience, but it seems like no one else is willing to work on a sliding scale. So she is literally hiding in her apartment, afraid to leave, not answering the door or her phone. It’s frightening and I feel helpless after weeks of making phone calls and following dead end leads. It should not be this hard.
Wench, have you tried a dental school in your area? I’ve never tried it, but others have said they do good, supervised work at discounted rates. Of course, assuming the discount is deep enough. :/
SN I just came back from having dental work done today at a dental school. I’ve found their work to very good and they are constantly supervised. The thing I like is on the first visit they went through my whole mouth and told me what had to be done for everything. Then they gave me a detailed sheet of what they had told me with the prices of everything. They told me I could have everything done in about four months or I could take as long as I wanted because I’m on a very heavy budget. So as it goes, I’ll get one thing done and then save up to have the next. Plus the price is about a quarter of what I would have paid to a general dentist and the specialist he would have sent me to.
I would have never thought of a dental school, but now that I’ve been to this one I would recommend it to anyone.
Just so you have an idea: My sister had 9 implants for the cost of $7.000, at a top clinic in Argentina. Guess where I am going to do mine??!!
I had one for $4000. Holy fuck.
it’s not just mexico steven. medical tourism is a great deal more prevalent than one would imagine, and it’s not just for poor people.
l have acquaintances who’ve gone to costa rica and thailand for procedures and received excellent care, in up to date facilities that border on luxury hotels.
Being truly poor means, of course, that traveling isn’t an option, unless one can walk.
If you could walk to Mexico you would find privatized medicine provided by a non-union workforce. The care is very high and the prices are very reasonable. It may be worth it.
Sounds a Hell of a lot like our situation!
I have a friend who went to Tijuana for laser eye surgery, which horrified me but turned out OK.
Another friend, retired and without insurance, went to India for a $15k heart bypass that would have cost $200k here. He said the quality of care and the facilities was world class. Both were comfortably middle class.
You’d think the MURKA FIRST wingnuts would be ashamed that we rank so low on the world scale for health care and demand we do better because we’re so inherently superior and wonderful. But instead they just bitch that the ranking system is rigged and rejoice in nationalistic mediocrity. Their sense of American exceptionalism is built upon egotistic hollow bragging, not actual high standards.
India is the largest privatized healthcare system in the world.
How can you argue for socialized healthcare for the US, and then present great proof for privatized healthcare from India and Mexico?
How do liberals not get this? You said it yourself:
“$15k heart bypass that would have cost $200k here.”
What part of your own sentence are you not understanding?
When I lived in Phoenix, it was common to hear of people getting certain dental work that wasn’t covered by their insurance done in Mexico. Things like implants and dentures. You could get them done for like a quarter of the price and the work was just as good.
A small amount of research would tell you that Mexico’s lower cost (and high quality) medical providers are PRIVATE. In fact, the only quality medical care in Mexico is PRIVATE. One of the reasons that the PRIVATE medical care is so affordable is that it is NON-UNION.
That makes Steven D either ignorant of the facts or completely disingenuous. Which is it, Steven D?
And the dollar is worth a lot more than the peso — for now. Any other amazing points to make?
I’d still rather live in France for my health care.
Yeah, you’re sooooo evolved! Did you know that labor costs account for a large portion of exchange rates? Try learning some economics before you make an economic argument.
Sorry to bust on you. But you have to admit that it’s pretty silly for you to promote Mexico’s PRIVATIZED and NON-UNION healthcare providers when you obviously want a socialized solution.
We’re you unaware of the truth? Or were you trying to mislead your readers? Which was it?
I wasn’t trying to mislead anyone. We have a private system in the US. Your point seems to be that the fact Mexico is “non-union” is the only reason they have a cheap health care system. You offer no proof other than your statements that this is the reason. Sorry, but I don’t want to get rid of what few unions cover US health worker to make my health care marginally cheaper. I want to get rid of a private health care system designed to benefit large insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
Maybe the fact that our health care system pays a helluva a lot more for administrative costs than other countries which have “socialized medicine” might have something to do with it?
LINK
Mexico’s private providers aren’t just non-union. They are non-union AND privatized.
As you mentioned, this has made Mexico a destination for medical tourism for United States citizens who can’t get appropriately priced care from the US system. And you make a good point there.
Once again you are misleading your audience, though. You call the US system a private system. It is not. Mexico’s private providers are private. The US system suffers under the burden of a union workforce and an insurance racket conceived by Congress. That’s the cause of the high admin costs.
Other than Medicaid and Medicare what part of the US health care system is run by the government? I’m unclear what you consider the word “privatized” to mean?
gov’t sources account for 45% of healthcare expenditures. 38% comes from employer plans. That’s hardly a private system.
If it were private, don’t you think a Californian provider could possibly compete with a Mexican provider?
Link?
http://books.google.com/books?id=cOPAZH2JwBIC&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=sources+of+US+healthca
re+funds&source=bl&ots=z7gBAQayEF&sig=1twixS5LcrBIBjG6z8agxdd_oMs&hl=en&ei=qOYdS
tm2MJi0NZiFzcQF&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA91,M1
Page 91.
So, what was it? Ignorant or disingenuous?
I hope you take this as an opportunity to free yourself of the liberal dogma. Brains (and the people who carry them) are great things when you allow them to work. It’s especially rewarding to help someone else to learn to think on their own.
You can do it Steven D!
Mexico doesn’t exactly look like a completely “privatized system” to me:
Sounds like one tier for the wealthy and upper middle class, one tier for lower middle class, and a third tier for the poor. If you belong to the top tier, you’re doing quite well. Everybody else? Not so much.
And it sounds like Mexico’s “private sector” is being fueled by medical tourism.
Oh, and from the wikipedia entry on Mexico’s health care system:
Now tell me again, how does this significantly differ from the US system? Rich people can get the best care, middle class people with jobs can get mediocre care unless they go out of pocket, and poor people can get crappy care at best. But the exchange rate makes Mexico’s health care costs much less for Americans, which is all due to — oh yes — because according to you Mexico is completely a non-union, privatized health care system. Except it’s not.
Just as you mention in your post. Mexico has completely private providers. There are other tiers too (lacking quality, of course!!!). But a privatized tier exists in Old Mex. There is no privatized tier in the US.
That’s it right there. You said it. Go Steven D! You’re getting it, buddy.
Signed up just to troll?
By the way, why don’t you give me your best guess on how many health care workers in the US belong to unions? a) 90%? b)75%? c)50%? d)25%? or e) 15% or less?
Go ahead. Take a guess, than back it up with some statistics. Can’t wait to hear your answer.
Ps. If I were you I wouldn’t guess too high.
1% would be 1% to many.
You proved my point in your article when you brought up medical tourism. That’s all the proof I need. Obviously the US system (whatever it is: semi-private, semi-solialized, 48% gov’t funded whatever) cannot compete with Mexico’s private medical providers.
Done and done. Nice work Steven D!
See my reply here:
Link
I think that makes you out to be a prevaricator, doesn’t it? Or maybe you were just ignorant of Mexico’s mixed private/public system? By the way, the percentage of Union workers according the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the health care and social assistance sector is 8%. Damn those union members! It’s all their fault!
That + 45% funding from gov’t sources = NOT PRIVATIZED
Mexico’s privatized tier is…. here it comes… it’s PRIVATIZED!
And as you mentioned, it’s so good and cheap that even I can afford to fly and get me some. Steve D, you should convince some of your liberal friends to push for privatized medicine in the US. Then people could afford it here too!!!
Non union has nothing to do. What has a lot to do with it is that the law suits are not as prevalent aw they are here. And they do not affect the price of care. Also very important is the fact that a doctor is generally a middle class. They do not charge those outrageous prices as they do here. Maybe it has to do with the availability of great care at public hospitals because the best doctors and professors of medicine have to serve in public hospitals, and if you get great care for free, why would you go spend a fortune with a private doctor.
And by the way, south of the border you have unions for everything, even for shoe shiners. Yes, there is unions for health providers :0)
None of the data in this thread supports your points on the public system in Mexico.
That is because it is not Mexico I am talking about :0)
Just putting some of third world countries as an example. In which case it is the same thing
And the data here is my experience living in a third world country and having gone to public hospitals. Got the best doctors for FREE. No cost on medicine nor anything else :0)
steven- why can’t you see that the cause is “UNIONS”? It is quite simple. health care, autos, clothing, linens, shoes, – just about everything.
It is simple. We should go back all the way to the period of the “benevolent owner”. Yeah – that’s it. And let us not forget all the potential for dramatic cost savings if we only could return to the use of children!
As a matter of fact, if we could elimnate all of the machinery and modern conviences and revert to the agri culter of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries!, then we wouldn’t have a health care problem- the poor would simply die.