KRUGMAN ROLLS OUT THE "EUROPEANS SPEND LESS IN HEALTHCARE" CANARD

KRUGMAN:

Let me start by pointing out something serious health economists have known all along: on general principles, universal health insurance should be eminently affordable.

After all, every other advanced country offers universal coverage, while spending much less on health care than we do.

THEY SPEND LESS BECAUSE HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED(EITHER ON PURPOSE OR BECAUSE THERE ARE SHORTAGES) AND AS A RESULT THEY GET LESS CARE, FEWER TESTS, LESS MEDS, ETC.

THAT'S WHY PRIVATE CARE IS BOOMING IN NATIONS WHERE THE STATE IS THE NATIONAL PROVIDER.

AS FAR AS LIFE-SPAN AND MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY STATS, THE USA IS BETTER - ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER HERE IN THE USA OUR DOCTORS INTERVENE IN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT CASES.

AND ALSO, A LOT OF OUR PREMATURE DEATHS ARE DEATHS CAUSED BY LIFESTYLE AND NOT HEALTHCARE DECISIONS/MANAGEMENT/COSTS. (WE ARE AS A NATION TOO FAT!)

AND OUR LIFESPAN STATS ARE LOWER BECAUSE WE COUNT PREEMIES AND THE EUROPEANS DON'T COUNT BABIES BORN BEFORE TERM IF THEY DIE.

BOTTOM-LINE: IF STATE-CONTROLLED CARE WAS BETTER THEN RUSSIA WOULD STILL BE THE USSR AND PRIVATE CARE IN EUROPE WOULD NOT BE A GROWING INDUSTRY.