On Saturday, July 25, T.R. Reid made an appearance at Linn-Benton Community College. In the Russell Tripp Center at 7 p.m. the crowds packed in for a lesson in healthcare in the richest country: America.
“Our healthcare system is horribly insufficient, horribly expensive, and seriously inequitable,” said Reid. “We need to fix it.”
Countries that are similar to America spend half of what we do, yet they can afford healthcare for the citizens.
“Of all the industrialized democracies there is only one that doesn’t provide healthcare for everybody and that is the world’s richest country the United States of America,” said Reid.
According to Reid, America is short of universal coverage where it should be with the latest expansions.
An international report card on healthcare is conducted of the 20 richest countries. One of the categories graded is called “Avoidable Mortality,” which is if there is a disease that modern medicine knows how to cure how many people with it are cured? On that scale America ranked 19.
Another category, “Healthy Life Expectancy at age 60,” which means when you’re 60 how long can you expect to live beyond that and still be healthy? Out of 23 of the richest countries America ranked 23.
“How can this be?” said Reid. “We are the richest country in the world.”
It is because of all the people who aren’t covered by healthcare. Today 34 million Americans don’t have healthcare coverage. It is no wonder some people wait until they are beyond sick to get seen by a doctor. About 22 million Americans die every year from treatable diseases because they can’t afford to be seen in the world’s richest country.
“We can afford healthcare for everyone and if everyone would like to leave early I can reduce my speech to a bumper sticker: ‘If France can do it the United States can do it’,” said Reid. “I know we can do this.”
Reid explained each health care model in-depth. There are four national healthcare models: The Bismarck Model, The Beveridge Model, The National Health Insurance Model, and The Out of Pocket Model.
The Bismarck Model followed in Germany uses private initiatives to provide the medical services. The insurance coverage is also mainly provided through private companies. However, the insurance companies operate as nonprofits and are required to sign up all citizens without any conditions. At the same time all citizens (barring a rich minority in the case of Germany) are required to sign up for one or the other health insurance. The government plays a central role in determining payments for various health services, thus keeping a decent control on cost.
The Beveridge Model was adopted by Britain and is closest to socialized medicine. Almost all health care providers work as government employees and the government acts as the single-payer for all health services. The patients incur no out-of-pocket costs, but the system is under pressure due to rising costs.
The National Health Insurance Model has a single-payer system like Britain; however, the health care providers work mostly as private entities. The system has done a good job of keeping costs low and providing healthcare to all. A major downside to this system comes from the ridiculously long waiting times for several procedures.
The Out of Pocket Model is the kind followed in most poor countries. People mostly pay for the services they receive 'out of pocket'. However, this leaves many underprivileged people without essential health care. Almost all countries with such a system have a much lower life expectancy and high infant mortality rates.
In America the four national healthcare models exist. According to Reid, 19 million Americans are on The Beveridge model, 148 million on The Bismarck Model, 54 million on Canada Medicare,and 34 million on The Out of Pocket Model.
Obamacare was never designed to cover everybody. According to the congregational budget office if Obamacare works perfectly, if it works exactly as it is designed in 2020 there will be 31 million uninsured people.
“Repeal and replace Obamacare,” said Reid.
According to Reid, universal coverage will happen but only state by state. Currently the two states actively seeking universal coverage and furthest along are Colorado and Oregon. Once a few states have this universal coverage and it is a success other states will see this and it will spread. Minnesota, New Mexico and New York are also looking into this.
Colorado has already written their plan and it is called Colorado Care. Everybody in Colorado has to pay into it and everyone will be covered up to 65 years of age and then medicare. This universal coverage would be great for Colorado and the country.
“As a loyal Coloradoan, I hope we get there first,” said Reid. “You beat us to marijuana and we’ll beat you universal coverage.”
Photograph and story by Melissa Chandler
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