Another Look At Life Expectancy

fact is the US pays more for it's increased life expectancy than other
country in the world.In no other developed country does the government pay

js...

I guess it was just a matter of time for someone to make the flying
leap from life expectancy and health care.

There is no doubt that health care impacts on life expectancy -
especially in terms of childhood diseases (immunizations), infectious
disease (antibiotics), and AIDS (antiretrovirals). But unfortunately,
lifestyle and genetics get in the way of health care success. When an
epidemiologist looks at life expectancy, the first questions focus on
disease incidence and prevalence, not treatment. The second questions
focus on population heterogeniety and genetics. And the third set of
questions looks at the interaction of lifestyle choices and these two
other sets of parameters.

private entities to arrange for health care. What would you think if

js...

Please don't tell the Germans this...or the French for that matter.

police, fire, children's education etc, were also turned over to the private
sector for management? All developed countries except the US include health

js...

Already is in a lot of areas. Certainly private security firms are
very prevalent.

There are contracted fire departments all over the country. Here are
some examples:

Rock Rye, NY
Scottsdale, Arizona
Grant Pass, Oregon,
Elk Grove, Illinois,
Madison, WI Airport,
Evansville Indiana EMS)

Rural/Metro is the largest private for profit fire department in the
country with 50 communities and 3,000 employees, providing emergency
services to thousands.

...and fire department training, particularly in the areas of hazmat
and ems are the rule, not the exception in the US (Boening does this of
all people). In the US 91 percent of firefighters are volunteers.
Most fire protection services are private (as opposed to fire
suppression).

And schools? My goodness - from pre-school through prep school and
beyond, the private sector educates a large number

care as a public service along with education, fire protection, etc. to be
paid for by a single payer -the government

Jean Smith...

So why do Canadians live three years longer than us?

js...

Not the Danes, as far as fire protection services are concerned.

Like I said, careful making these braod sweeping statements. Germany,
France, Italy, and Spain have a large private sector insurance schemes
managing health care. Even in the UK with its NHS has a large private
sector health care system.

Just because you think you know all about health care in Europe doesn't
make you right.