Dear Mr. Bush:

[electricland]

Just for the record, American health care is not "the envy of the world".

It's expensive; you spend 3 times as much money per patient on administrative costs as Canada does and 50% more of your GDP overall.

It's inconsistent. 40 million people have no health coverage at all (that alone should make you ashamed to show your face). Millions of others have complicated copayments or are denied coverage for pre-existing conditions (see the above note on administrative costs).

Your infant mortality rate is pretty bad (6.69 per thousand, slightly worse than Greece).

You have significant disparities in health rankings between black and white and between rich and poor.

What happened to the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Is that just for the rich? Or do you care for that as much as you care for the rest of the Constitution Declaration of Independence? Oops. Thank you cheerfulchaotic. The rhetoric is less sweeping but the facts are right now.

I could go on (and on), but I'll let Medscape have the final word: American healthcare is the best in the world if...

1. You have full, comprehensive, in-depth health insurance coverage with low deductibles and copayments, and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions;



2. You live in a major metropolitan area;



3. You have a long-term relationship with a physician who serves your primary care needs, seeks specialist attention when needed, and finds the right specialist;



4. You speak and understand good English and so does your doctor, and you are neither sight- nor hearing-impaired;



5. You are well educated;



6. You have money and transportation capability;



7. You are white;



8. You are naturally skeptical and questioning;



9. You personally access the internet to help you take charge of your life; and, until recently



10. You are male.

(Responses: one two three (may require registration))

Comments

Re: psst

[raithen.livejournal.com]

*hee* I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing. Go ELL!