I go to a “poor peoples’” community health clinic and the costs are real low. Haven’t had anything but generics in 20 years or so (I understand that wouldn’t be possible with a cancer Dx or other show stoppers). Usually see PAs but not always. Quality of care has been fine.
A couple of things:
1) Does Chile’s healthcare system guarantee free healthcare to millions of illegals, the cost of which then gets passed down to those who actually pay?
2) Does Chile have all of the technical know-how and wizbangs to prolong life even after the poor patient should die? For example, does someone who goes into a coma in Chile die, or is he kept alive by the latest in medical technology? Do people in Chile who have advanced cancers get treated, or do they die, whereas in the US some live due to expensive medical treatment? The point here is that some of the most expensive treatments help a relatively small number of people to live. If the US eliminated those treatments, the life expectancy would not be much affected, but the overall healthcare costs would.
Eliminate the Welfare* component of Medicare and the problem also goes away.
* Recipient of benefits who never contributed more than $1.75
Last time I went to a doctor, (except for the dentist), I had an ear infection.
I knew I had an ear infection, I didn’t just fall of the turnip truck! I needed antibiotics.
Now, I know how to get antibiotics without going to the doctor, so I got that covered.
Last time I went to a doctor was about 1995...
I tend to think 90% of Americans are about 2% away from being total hypochondriacs.
Medical employees and insurance companies take too much.