Comment

The Healing of America

a Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care
Oct 09, 2017
I’ve now read two Global Quest books from T.R. Reid. His analysis is clear, enlightened, and entertaining. I wish decision-makers were reading them and legislating accordingly. Like he did with taxation (A Fine Mess: A Global Quest for a Simpler, Fairer, and More Efficient Tax System), he shows how other modern, prosperous countries have addressed the question of health care successfully. Reid samples health care in six countries: France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, and India. He shows how each has adopted and adapted one of four commonly used healthcare models: Bismarck, Beveridge, National Health Insurance, or Out-of-Pocket. The United States follows a unique model that compares poorly on most measures of benefit/effect and costs far more as measured by percentage of GDP. To adopt a better system, the U.S. must first decide that the nation has a moral obligation to provide healthcare. Then, we can address the basic problems of cost, coverage, and quality. We also have to let go of the myths that prevent clear assessment of the issues, starting with “American exceptionalism,” the notion that no other country has useful ideas.