Thirty years in the United States, most of them without any form of medical insurance. Like many Americans I just hoped that I didn’t get sick. If you don’t have health insurance in the States, say your prayers and give your heart to God because the quality of care is you receive will be mediocre at best.

Recently I had to go to the hospital, First I needed to see a doctor to prescribe a sonogram and blood test. Afterwards, I had to go to the hospital because they had the facilities needed for this medical problem….

The quality of care I received was excellent. At one point, I had four medical professionals in the room with me at once to ensure that I understood the instructions they gave me. (Don’t worry I am not going to die.) I was impressed that the hospital did not seem to care that I am American, didn’t buy medical insurance before I moved in September or that I am not enrolled into French social security. Their concern was only for my health and treatment.

Here are some interesting comparisons between France, The United States and Greece from The World Health Organization.

Life expectance at birth

France: males 76.0 females 83.0
Greece: males 69.1 females 72.9
U.S: males 67.2 females 71.3

Per 1000 babies born

In France 5 males, 4 female babies will die
In Greece 6 males, 4 female babies will die
In the USA 8 males, 7 female babies will die

How Much Does the Government Spend??? (Percentage of GDP)

France, 10.1%
Greece, 9.9%
The USA, 15.2%

The United States has the best emergency care system in the world…not the best health care system in the world. We excel when it comes to new medical technology, but sadly this does not translate into better medical care for common people. The problem is that in America the health care industry makes more money in the cure rather than prevention. So you will not find affordable health check ups for women and children living in poverty, and the programs we do have Republicans want to eliminate.

I have heard many Americans say schools should not even give out free lunches because feeding their children is the parents responsibility. Poverty is humiliating enough, making children suffer because their parents are poor seems like a morally repugnant thing for any civilization to support or tolerate.

In France, finding work and making money is certainly difficult and life here is not a bed of roses, but at least if you get sick rest assured that the doctors do not consider your HMO before prescribing a test or preventative care. So here, you can save your prayers for other things and give your heart to your family because at least they will have you around for a few more years.

P.S. Almost forgot to mention this part….

Doctors’ incomes: (a)

United States $132,300
Germany 91,244
Denmark 50,585
Finland 42,943
Norway 35,356
Sweden 25,768

(a) Remaining statistic charts listed in Where We Stand, by Michael Wolff, Peter Rutten, Albert Bayers III, and the World Rank Research Team (New York: Bantam Books, 1992)

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