Seen at yesterday’s “Occupy Chicago” march on State Street:
The entire US Defense budget for 2010: $685.1 Billion
In 2009, the United States federal, state and local governments, corporations and individuals, together spent $2.5 trillion, $8,047 per person, on health care. This amount represented 17.3% of the GDP, up from 16.2% in 2008 and health insurance costs are rising faster than wages or inflation.
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Even if every sword was beat into scalpels, it wouldn’t begin to pay for America’s exploding health care bill. Worse, with our new health care reform law, the same old construct for health care delivery remains: burgenoning middle-man costs, pandering to special interests, and endless consumer expectations.
By Dr. Westby G. Fisher
Dr. Westby G. Fisher is a cardiologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem who writes regularly at Dr. Wes.Visit website | More posts by Author
"But don't occupy healthcare" Is your point the problem is too big to solve? Otherwise, what's you point, Doc? The solution is not rocket science... USASinglePayerOption.com The Nationwide, "Not-for-profit Health Service" so described...
Too much focus on costs. Fifty years ago a billion dollars could not have bought me a lung transplant. Now I can complain that my health insurance will not cover it. Or years ago I would not have been able to get a knee replacement, I would just suffer. Individuals make choices - do I want dentures or will I mortgage the farm and go for implants? Whatever system that is put in to replace or improve what we have should encourage discovery and innovation.