So why don't you use it? Try not to bruise it

This graph, created a few months ago by National Geographic and reprinted today by Boing Boing has been bending my brain all afternoon (click for full size, better yet, click the link above to go to the original Boing Boing posting):                                                                                                              

Now, it's no shock to anyone reading this that the United States is paying approximately sixty percent more per person per year than the next closest country on the graph and enjoying a far worse result, if we define "worse result" as life expectancy. That's how I would define it, but these days I think a fair number of people believe our health care system is a success because it's "not socialist," which is a bit like me deciding I'm a success in life because I'm not Kirk Cameron. There may be some merit to both arguments, but really, we're not using any logical metric for "success" in either case. I also think Americans' willingness to accept more expensive and less effective care is indicative of a deep seated paranoia in our culture - we're willing to pay more to make sure that we're not the one who gets stuck on one of those waiting lists somebody told us that they have some place in Europe. That's a post for another day, though.

No, what struck me the most about that graph is how clearly it demonstrates that we are paying more than any other civilized nation on Earth for health care that we don't even use. If you haven't clicked on the full sized version of the graph, do so now. The density of each line on the graph indicates how many times per year that an average citizen in a given country visits the doctor. Apparently, here in America we see the doctor so infrequently that our annual visits barely make it into the low single digits. What the hell?

Part of this may be our good old fashioned Yankee willingness to "walk it off." Lord knows I'm guilty of that more often than not. (I've always thought of Monty Python's quadruple amputee black night threatening to "bite your legs off" as uniquely American.) Another factor might be the large numbers of uninsured we have here in the US. Thirty million people who can't afford to see the doctor at all are going to skew your averages a bit. But let's face it: the bulk of us aren't going to the doctor because it costs a shitload of money, we know that if the doctor finds something serious we're screwed, and honestly, even in a best-case scenario, dealing with insurance companies is a royal pain in the ass. 

Our "greatest healthcare system in the world" has become a white elephant. Thai emperors would bestow white elephants on nobility who had displeased them. Outwardly, bestowing such a gift seemed like a sign of the emperor's favor, but soon the nobility who had been so blessed found themselves going broke trying to take care of the damned thing. They suffered, and the emperor continued to enjoy a reputation for justice and generosity.

Who saddled us with this white elephant, and what the hell did we ever do to them?

(Hat tip to guy in milwaukee at The Crack Den. Stole Monty Python image from here.)

Comments

[sephtao]

How in God's name can a loyal American support a waiting list inflicted upon me by some nameless faceless socialized bureaucrasy! I'ld much rather be denied coverage by a good
old fashioned HMO - at least their stock options go up by taking in payments while refusing to pay for treatment. God Bless America!

[generic cialis]

I'd like to do an online quiz where a picture is displayed and below
it a graphic that says "click to see answer" if you click on that
graphic, the answer is displayed. I'd like to have a page with 15 or
so quiz items, and people can just go one-by-one and click on each
answer button to see the answer.

[generic cialis]

I literally laughed out loud with delight at your Harry Highpants (a name that gets bandied about quite a bit in our house).

I even startled my husband who was quietly reading.

He is a wonderful addition to your animal collection. Love him.

[generic cialis]

I literally laughed out loud with delight at your Harry Highpants (a name that gets bandied about quite a bit in our house).

I even startled my husband who was quietly reading.

He is a wonderful addition to your animal collection. Love him.

[Nursing pajamas]

excellent illustration! great post, i enjoyed reading your article i leanred a lot from it, i mean i gain something on your blog. thanks

[Fantastic Business Online]

Nice post!and the graph is perfect!As I read it,I've found out some important things...that we are paying more than any other civilized nation on Earth for health care that we don't even use.
It's good to know that thing!

[jordan sneakers]

Hey, it's nice to see you blogging again.

[eyeshadow palettes]

interesting statistic. just what is neede for my course work! rhank you!

[Coach Outlet]

Nh,I agree,we know that if the doctor finds something serious we're screwed

[generic viagra]

Excellently amazing... Hats off to your creativity man…this is a world-class write-up which I think should be read by every citizen of the world. I am happy that at least somebody gave this subject an attention. People should understand its importance as well…

[furosemide]

Thanks for the nice blog. It was very useful for me. Keep sharing such ideas in the future as well. This was actually what I was looking for, and I am glad to came here! Thanks for sharing the such information with us.

[cheawholesale hats]

Nh,I agree,we know that if the doctor finds something serious we're screwed

[moncler outlet]

The article is good, there's no problem to the author