Japanese Pay Less for More Health Care

[and-justice-for-all]

All Things Considered, April 14, 2008 · Japan produces cars, color TVs and computers, but it also produces the world's healthiest people. It has the longest healthy life expectancy on Earth and spends half as much on health care as the United States.

That long life expectancy is partly due to diet and lifestyle, but the country's universal health care system plays a key role, too.

Everyone in Japan is required to get a health insurance policy, either at work or through a community-based insurer. The government picks up the tab for those who are too poor.

It's a model of social insurance that is used in many wealthy countries. But it's definitely not "socialized medicine." Eighty percent of Japan's hospitals are privately owned — more than in the United States — and almost every doctor's office is a private business.

Health Care for Anyone at Anytime

Dr. Kono Hitoshi is a typical doctor. He runs a private, 19-bed hospital in the Tokyo neighborhood of Soshigaya.

"The best thing about the Japanese medical system is that all citizens are covered," Kono says. "Anyone, anywhere, anytime — and it's cheap."

Patients don't have to make appointments at his hospital, either.

The Japanese go to the doctor about three times as often as Americans. Because there are no gatekeepers, they can see any specialist they want....

More: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89626309

[Joe the Liberal]

1. Yup, while here in the US we're stuck with a joke of a health care system......

and a system like the one most 1st world countries have is'nt even on the table.

[and-justice-for-all]

2. Im posting a few more countries info on their Health Care systems

People really need to see what other countries have, because it is never mentioned ANYWHERE when they talk about health care.

Show a few million people what other countries health care system are and you will have a few million pissed off people.

[Joe the Liberal]

4. Yea if more people only knew.....

That most developed countries have free universal health care I think there would be more pressure to get it here in the US. Unfortunately most people are stuck in a bubble and buy into the whole "America is the best country on earth and has the best of EVERYTHING". I 100% agree with you, people do need to see what other countries have compared to us.

[napi21]

3. In not sure about Japan, but I think most countries (other than the US) offer free or next to free

college & advanced degree education. I know my DIL's daughter (from her first marriage) is attending medical school in Romania and my son & DIL are payi8ng for it. When he first told me they were paying for her education, I about croaked! Then he told me it costs $1,200 a year! YES...not a semester, but per year! She's in her second year of med xchool now, and the only requirement is that the sstudent must maintain a C or aboue average.

Also Drs in other countries don't make the kind of $$ they do here in the US. I'm sure part of the reason is because Drs here graduate with BIG school loans they have to pay off and the ones in other countries don't.

[BlooInBloo]

6. It's not free anywhere.

[napi21]

7. $1,200 a year is damn close to free! n/t

[BlooInBloo]

8. Is it supplemented from tax revenue?

[napi21]

10. I have no clue. My son just married this lady last Sept. She's from Romania

and although my son is a US citizen, he's been working & living in Sicily for the last 10 years. They met each other there.

Obviously the $$ for the education has to come from somewhere and I think it probably does come from taxes. I can't imagine where else it could come from. It sure does sound attractive to be able to attend college & grad school without having to mortgage your life like students have to do here.

I guess there is a bit of a down side, because when my son told me she was studying to be a Dr and I said "WOW!" he added, "Dr's aren't put on a pedistle here like they are in the US. They make a decent living, but hot even close to what many in the US do.

[BlooInBloo]

11. $1200 * (japanese adult population 83 million) = approx $100 billion...

Is that enough to run a healthcare system for 128 million people?

[napi21]

12. I think you nisunderstood my post. The $1,200 a yr. is the tuituion cost

for her daughter to go to med school. AFAIK their med care is simply included in taxes they pay.

[BlooInBloo]

13. O right - didn't realize the topic had been changed. My bad.

[and-justice-for-all]

9. Oh, of course not...nt

[BlooInBloo]

5. I wonder if they have fools whining about being forced to buy healthcare?

[and-justice-for-all]

14. Kick

[caffefwee]

15. I'll second that

No

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