Myths About Health Care Around the World

From the Washington Post, 5 Myths About Health Care Around the World http://bit.ly/2kHpEb

Have a look at some somewhat surprising facts below:

Germans can sign up for any of the nation's 200 private health insurance plans - a broader choice than any American has.

In Austria & Germany, if a doctor diagnoses a person as "stressed," medical insurance pays for weekends at a health spa.

In Japan, waiting times are so short that most patients don't bother to make an appointment.

U.S. health insurance companies have the highest administrative costs in the world; 20 c per $ for nonmedical costs.

Japanese go to the doctor 15 times a year, three times the U.S. rate. They have twice as many MRI scans and X-rays.

In the United States, an MRI scan of the neck costs about $1,500. In Japan, the identical scan costs $98.

"Foreign health insurance plans exist only to pay people's medical bills, not to make a profit."

700,000 Americans go into bankruptcy/year because of medical bills. Number of medical bankruptcies = zero in France, Britain, Japan, Germany.

Comments from Twitter:

vasculardoc @DrVes my uncle was an FP in austria and he told me he regularly prescribes a spa for stress relief.hoping he will write 1 for me 4 2 weeks! about 12 hours ago from web in reply to DrVes

mariawolters @DrVes Germany has both private and "public" insurers. You can only go private if you earn well. Good choice of insurers in both sectors. about 9 hours ago from mobile web

mariawolters @DrVes public insurers also cover kids for free, spouses if they are unemployed. about 9 hours ago from mobile web

mariawolters @DrVes rich public insurers help finance those with many high risk, poor clients. about 9 hours ago from mobile web

Related:
U.S. Life Expectancy Shorter Than 41 Countries
Image source: Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.