9 ms·

Could this be because US gov healthcare spending takes place mostly via Medicare, which is specifically for people 65+?

• californical 29d ago
  The spending per capita, unless I’m mistaken, is just “per person in the country” not “per person insured by the government”. That means that even though government insurance in the US only covers a relatively small percent of the population, we pay more than other countries that cover the whole population.
  • cwmoore 29d ago
    Close to the same percent that doesn’t have employer coverage, they’re saying, those too old or ill to work fulltime. I say convert SSA to UBI, set a floor, and let the price of things find a new level with more people in the marketplace:
• notahacker 29d ago
  Per capita stats are computed based on population, not per treatment or per person eligible for treatment. The US spends more per head on giving only a fraction of them subsidised healthcare than other nations manage on universal health, [more years of] education, [more generous] welfare payments etc. Some of that is down to medical professional salary discrepancies, but some of it is down to a terrible system...
  • nickff 29d ago
    >"Per capita stats are computed based on population, not per treatment or per person eligible for treatment. " Your point is correct, but since the majority of healthcare spending occurs in the last 18 months of life, and the vast majority are on either Medicare or Medicaid during that time of their life (either due to age or ailment-related incapacity), it doesn't make a huge difference.