Re: Productivity - Norway leads the table.

Martin Brown wrote:

On Sep 7, 5:09 pm, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

MooseFET wrote:

[...]


Overall, people actually tend to live longer lives in Europe.

Any links? But you may be right, many people in the US have a problem
with obesity and lack of exercise.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9053-2/index1.html

Quote "They developed specific standards, or quality indicators, ...".
Hmm, pretty vague here. For me, outcome is more important. For example
if someone gets cancer, what the survival rate is.


http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre/press_release/en/index.html

I was hoping to find a list of average life expectancies by country but
I am sure it exists somewhere ;-)


I thought it was on the OECD website somewhere, but a quick search
didn't find it. The closest I know of is:

http://www.mrdowling.com/800life.html
(but I can't vouch for the figures)

However, one very interesting survey of the Japanese system is
available free online and may be of interest as a completely different
public service model with one of the highest life expectancy outcomes
of any country on the planet. They have a relatively healthy diet, but
males drink and smoke far too much and still manage to live longer
than anyone else. There are quirks in the OECD survey. It looks to me
like the researchers have never lived or worked in Japan from some of
their comments. All rooms in Japan are tiny by Western standards.

http://titania.sourceoecd.org/vl=22877280/cl=21/nw=1/rpsv/workingpapers/18151981/wp_5lgsjhvj7r9x.htm

The most obvious bias is that everybody wants to be average. So that
despite being much healthier than any other nation on the planet only
42% claim good health (mild hypochondria and over prescribing is a
feature in Japan). By comparison 91% of US citizens claim very good
health despite around 30% of them being clinically obese.

The effective cost of treatment with age makes sobering reading. What
happens in the USA when you stop being employed and covered by
employers medical insurance? The most expensive medical procedures
tend to be needed at age 75+. Insurance is a business so how do they
make it pay?


It's called Madicare. You pay roughly 3% of your salary into a social security tax system, up to a limit. Right now the contribution is capped between $2-3K/year I think. Then after retirement this pays for all the major stuff such as surgeries, cancer treatments and such. Doctor visit and meds are extra and you can either buy a supplemental coverage from the government, or from private carrier, or pay your own.

Medicare coverage is the same for everyone, regardless of how much you paid in, provided that you have at least 40 quarters paid up to the minimum.


So, what's your life expectancy in the USA if you get seriously sick and don't have a private medical insurance policy ?
That's something like 25% of the US population.

The serioulsy sick are always treated, whether they are covered or not.
It's the law and hospitals stick to that law.

Hospitals skirt the law a lot:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5298034

Yes, that story went around the nation. It does happen, once even in our
neck of the woods, but it's not that widespread.


It seems to be pretty poor in the US from the few cases I have known.
A colleagues newborn child was effectively left to die by the hospital
until he was able to find the specific clause in his medical insurance
policy for special air evacuation to a major regional hospital capable
of full neonatal intensive care. They were much more concerned about
getting paid than saving lives. This anecdote is reflected in the new
born death rate in the USA (in the OECD survey).


Have a link to that study?

He could sue that hospital and win big time if he has proof or witnesses who are willing to testify. They clearly broke our laws. That happens rarely since they must treat everyone, payment is a different process and has nothing to do with that. And they know full well that they can get sued if they ever violate this law.


I worry when travelling over there what happens if I get injured in a
mugging and lose my wallet with cash, credit cards and medical
insurance.


Get travelers medical insurance. It's cheap if you sign up outside the US, especially in Europe.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com
.

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