Lives at Risk: Single-Payer National Health Insurance Around the World
Lives at Risk: Single-Payer National Health Insurance Around the World
Virtually everyone agrees that our health care system needs reform. But what kind of reform? Some want a return to the system that prevailed in the 1950s. Others would like to see the adaptation of the government-run systems prevalent in other countries. The latter, national health insurance or single-payer health insurance, appears to be gaining ground in the United States. Before Americans find themselves participating in a health care system that has failed in every country it was adopted, we should be asking ourselves whether such a system is effective and efficient.
In “Lives at Risk”, the authors examine the critical failures of national health insurance systems without focusing on minor blemishes or easily correctable problems. In doing so, the purpose is to identify the problems common to all countries with national health insurance and to explain why these problems emerge. Most national health care systems are in a state of sustained internal crisis as costs rise and the stated goals of universal access and quality care are not met. In almost all cases, the reason is the same: the politics of medicine. The problems of government-run health care systems flow inexorably from the fact that they are government-run rather than market driven.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Libertarian critique of socialized medicine
This book is a critique of socialized medicine, as it exists in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, by a team of free market economists. As befits an advocacy book, with a strong point of view, the authors are good at finding facts which undermine the arguments in favor of socialized medicine. They persuasively argue that national health systems not only cause patients to wait for long, often fatally long, periods of time before treatment, but that these systems are riddled with inequity based on politics.
This inequality manifests itself in some interesting, and to me at least unexpected, ways. Rural areas, of course, get poorer quality care than cities. Not surprising. The politically well-connected get better care than the man on the street. Not surprising. But the system as a whole pays a great deal of attention to people who are not very sick, and tends to short-change the critically ill. That surprised me. But it makes sense. These countries are democracies. Most people are not very sick. Politicians naturally want to provide benefits that the average person will see. Thus, in Germany, national health pays to send you to spas. In Britain, national health pays for ambulances for the not-very-sick which amount to glorified free taxicabs. But in both countries, there is a severage shortage of MRIs. The logic here is that the small minority which is very sick, tends to suck up most healthcare dollars, but that minority lacks enough political clout to get that result. Thus, national health tends to give the shaft to the very sick and the very old.
This book is very much worth reading. It has many interesting facts in it. I am less enthusiastic about the book than I might be, however, because the authors free market zeal was so strong. This lead them at times to make less than compelling arguments, in support of conclusions which free market theory supports but the facts do not. It also lead them to write often in terms of economic jargon, which I never like very much. Finally, it makes a a lot of what they say so out of touch politically that it is hard to take seriously. The authors may be right that a free market system is less likely to throw Grandma from the train than is a socialist system, but the Left is much better at expressing its thoughts as if they give a damm about Grandma. The way these guys argue is so abstract that it often leaves me cold.
4 Stars Idael Health Care vs. Universal Health Care
I learn that Ideal Health Care might be more effective than Univerisal Health Care. In addition, Manage Care & Single Payer Care have too many pit falls.
5 Stars A humbling read.
I spent a few months reading various writings on health care systems and trying to clean up the trash heap that is all Wikipedia articles on the topic. I thought I had a good grip on what was going on around the world. I was wrong.
Lives at Risk presents a crystal clear picture of the health care industry in the US, UK, and Canada. It exposes the economic and political factors that have caused decreasing performance and increasing costs in all three countries. Finally, Lives at Risk makes a recommendation for a way to do things better.
This book lays it all out in short, easy chapters supported by copious references for those who want to know more.
5 Stars Great Great Great Book
This book is a very informative book. It breaks things down for the average person to understand, but still gives plenty of statistics and facts to make it relevant to anyone.
I challenge anyone to read this book with an open mind and still believe in national health care.
5 Stars Debunking the myths of socialized medicine
Mr Goodman points out some important facts about the uninsured in America, as well as the lies which are pushed by the leftist and the media. He intimately describes the socialized medicine systems throughout the world and compares those systems with America’s healthcare system. A well-researched, compelling book! This is a MUST READ for anyone who thinks that Government controlled, single-payer “free” healthcare is what America Needs!!
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