--- In [email protected], "boo_lives" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], "shempmcgurk" <shempmcgurk@> > wrote: > > > > > FOR ABOUT THE 10,000th TIME: WE HAVE TWO -- COUNT 'EM TWO -- > > NATIONAL > > > HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS: > > > > > > 1) MEDICAID; AND > > > > > > 2) MEDICARE. > > > > > > BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM WE SPEND ABOUT $800 BILLION A YEAR. THAT'S > > > MORE THAN 90% OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD (SEE: > > > http://tinyurl.com/9rz4x ) > > > > Correction: I meant to say "more than the GDP of more than 90% of the > > countries of the world..." > > > Of what possible significance does either of these figures have to the > argument?? You can prove almost anything by pointing to the fact that > the US as a whole spends more on it than other countries, which we do > because we're THE richest and one of the most populous countries. Do > you know what the terms "per capita" or percentage means? > > The relevant number is percent of the population covered by these 2 > programs. I've heard that we spend about 1/3 of total health care > dollars via medicare and medicaid, but that number is biased by the > fact that medicare is for the elderly who take a disportionate > percentage of health care dollars.
Yes, Bhairitu, but even the countries with universal health care have elderly people and their care constitutes the majority of health spending. > So I would guess that much less > than 30% of the population is covered by these programs, and their > coverage is pretty basic isn't it - at least my mother needs > supplemental insurance as medicare doesn't begin to cover all her > health care costs right now. Bhairitu, almost 100% of all Medicare recipients in the United States have supplemental medicare insurance because Medicare only pays about 80% of hospital costs, for example. > > I don't think I've ever talked with anyone about health care issues > who argued that the US had a strong federal health care program > compared to other industrialized countries. It's because you live near Berkeley. Actually, I'm not arguing that the US has a strong federal health care program compared to anyone; it sucks. I was arguing against using improper terms to describe a situation, a particular problem I've had with you in the past in this very area. Certainly, you've seen me produce these very figures at least a dozen times before...often for YOUR benefit???
