Frontline: Sick around the world

An interesting review of national universal health care plans outside of the US, including in England, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and Switzerland. All these plans spend much less than the 15% of GDP spent by the US. Japan only spends 6% (!) of GDP. Of course, in Japan the hospitals are failing and doctors make much less than those in the US, but still the result is health care far better than we have it here.

How to do it?

1. Volume negotiation for drug prices.
2. Force everyone to participate, including the rich
3. Dramatically reduce the amount spent on administrative costs (20% of health care $ in the US) -- essentially eliminate the insurers, or make them non-profit.
4. Encourage prevention and stricter chronic care to avoid costlier life saving measures later.