Study: Americans sicker than Canadians

[xpgeek]

Co-author calls national health insurance a factor

You can add Canadians to the list of foreigners who are healthier than Americans.

Americans are 42 percent more likely than Canadians to have diabetes, 32 percent more likely to have high blood pressure, and 12 percent more likely to have arthritis, Harvard Medical School researchers found.

That is according to a survey in which American and Canadian adults were asked over the telephone about their health.

The study comes less than a month after other researchers reported that middle-aged, white Americans are much sicker than their counterparts in England.

"We're really falling behind other nations," said Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a co-author of the Canadian study.

Canada's national health insurance program is at least part of the reason for the differences found in the study, Woolhandler said. Universal coverage makes it easier for more Canadians to get disease-preventing health services, she said.

James Smith, a RAND Corp. researcher who co-authored the American-English study, disagreed. His research found that England's national health insurance program did not explain the difference in disease rates, because even Americans with insurance were in worse health.

"To me, that's unlikely," he said of the idea that universal coverage explains international differences.

Woolhandler said her findings were different in at least one important respect: In the Canadian study, insured Americans and Canadians had about the same rates of disease. It was the uninsured Americans who made the overall U.S. figures worse, she said.

The study, released Tuesday, is being published in the American Journal of Public Health. It is based on a telephone survey of about 3,500 Canadians and 5,200 U.S. residents in 2002-03. Those surveyed were 18 or older.

The results are based on what those surveyed said about their health. In contrast, the researchers in the American-English study surveyed participants and also examined people and conducted laboratory tests on them.

The new study found that 6.7 percent of Americans and 4.7 percent of Canadians reported having diabetes; 18.3 percent and 13.9 percent, respectively, reported having high blood pressure; and 17.9 percent and 16.0 percent said they had arthritis.

The Americans also reported more heart disease and major depression, but those difference were too small to be statistically significant.

About 21 percent of Americans said they were obese, compared with 15 percent of Canadians. And about 13.5 percent of the Americans admitted to a sedentary lifestyle, versus 6.5 percent of Canadians. However, more Canadians were smokers -- 19 percent, compared with about 17 percent of Americans.

About 42 percent of the Americans rated their quality of health care as excellent, while 39 percent of Canadians did.

Also, 92 percent of American women said they had a Pap test within the last five years, while 83 percent of Canadian women had. But Canadians have lower death rates from cervical cancer. "It's a little hard to interpret," Woolhandler said.

One more plus for the Americans: Fewer than 1 percent said they were unable to get needed care because of long waits, compared with 3.5 percent of Canadians.

However, about 80 percent of Americans had a regular doctor, while 85 percent of Canadians did. And nearly twice as many Americans said there were medicines they needed but couldn't afford (9.9 percent versus 5.1 percent).

Source (http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/05/30/healthier.canadians.ap/index.html)

[xpgeek]

Just the headline makes me go 'Well DUH !"

They have national healthcare, we don't, as someone with no insurance at all, oh yea that makes one heckova difference.

Study seems a little biased too, I get the impression from the article that about a good 70% at least of the Americans they called were in fact insured, which leaves a whole lotta people they didn't call. Over 20 million uninsured Americans at last estimate. Thats 20 Million people, without health insurance of any kind.

Canadians are healthier, well DUH.

[Uguel]

I read that article too! As a Canadian I can say that living in Canada is good but not so much in the Northern part during the Winter. Since I live in San Diego, I just had one little cold whereas when I was in Quebec, I usually caught the flu almost every year and the illness could last several weeks.... Many folks I know were just like me too. Health insurance is fine but they do not investigate much in new medecine or surgery equipment. That's why many students in Medecine prefer to go working in the U.S. because of that. They find better equipment and better working environment as well. It might change one day but it is not for tomorrow.

[L-knot]

Well, they didn't call me so.....

I haven't been sick in 20 years and have a 31" waist and have no health insurance - but at my age I find it necessary to carry reading glasses. 20/20 vision suddenly vanished before my eyes in a matter of months in my 40's - oh yeah, and I'm having my first root canal - all that's left to do is a crown.

[FisionChips]

Can someone explain this in idiot speak for me please... if you have no health insurance in the US what options do you have for health care? Is there no state cover at all?

[L-knot]

We do have employer/group health insurance. If we had national health insurance our taxes would most likely be outrageous. We do have this one other option which I have:
Health plan for reduced rates. http://www.ahrq.gov/CONSUMER/hlthpln1.htm

We do have state paid insurance but it's for:

Medicare is a health insurance program for:

* people age 65 or older,
* people under age 65 with certain disabilities, and
* people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant)

[Micron]

Can someone explain this in idiot speak for me please... if you have no health insurance in the US what options do you have for health care? Is there no state cover at all?

All depends on HMO's - Evil things.

[xpgeek]

Good luck finding an employer in the US willing to give their employees health coverage these days too. The good jobs at big companys do, but most middle class working class jobs, take Walmart for the best example, not a chance.

My only option as an uninsured New Jerseyean is a state aid program called 'Charity Care', but its not even that great. Theres only certain things they will pay for, and many things they will not. The last time I had to go to the hospital and stay for three days, I was approved for Charity Care for the stay, and still got a bill for 4 thousand bucks.

[zimagirl79]

If you have no health insurance, you simply have to pay out of pocket for any services you receive. I was without coverage for about 7 years, and only saw a doctor in extreme cases. One office visit cost me US$140 and then I had to go pay for a couple of prescriptions. My recent round of doctor visits would never have taken place if I hadn't just gotten insurance. I had severe neck pain and would have simply hoped it would go away had I not had insurance.

There is state coverage for people with very low incomes called Medicaid, then there is Medicare which is federally funded. In my state, there is an option for children, which mine are on, called the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and a similar program for adults called Adult Basic. That name says it all - it is basic coverage but better than nothing. Both programs have income limits, but they are higher than the state provided coverage.

We must be at no more than something like 235% of poverty level to qualify. If the total income falls under the 200% level, the CHIP coverage is free, and after that it falls under the subsidized category and goes to $30 per month per child. If you have more than 3 children on the program, you get all of your kids at a set rate which is less than the $30 per child. It covers every service my kids need with no copayments. My youngest has had 2 surgeries with the best doctors around so I'm extremely grateful to have this coverage for them.

The Adult Basic is a subsidized program only, and it only costs $33.50 per adult per month, which is pretty cheap. Then again, it's not a whole lot of coverage. We don't have coverage for prescriptions, dental services, or vision services. So my trips to the dentist are at full price, although my dentist gives me a discount. My reading glasses that I just got so I can see this computer were another $219 out of my pocket. My prescriptions are discounted so that's not a bad deal. We do have copays for every visit, but they are cheap too. To get on this program, we had to apply and be placed on a waiting list. We were on that list for almost two years before we got notice that we finally would have coverage. It won't last long, since we are bumping our heads on the income ceiling, so I'm taking advantage of it while I can and getting myself checked out. So far I'm pretty healthy, thank goodness.

Presently there is no waiting list for the children's program, which is a good thing for people who need to take advantage of the opportunity to get insurance for their kids. Mine have been on it since they were born almost. They were only covered on my insurance from my employer for the first 31 days. Then when I "retired" my insurance ended because I couldn't afford to pay for it on my own so I had none. My husband has never had insurance until now. He simply does not go to the doctor, and we keep dentist visits to a minimum.

Oh, and my husband was recently offered insurance through his employer. It would be better coverage than what we have, but at a cost of about $500 permonth for the family as opposed to the $127 we pay right now. This is the first time he was ever offered insurance through an employer. Unless you are in a union or work for a big company, chances of getting insurance are pretty slim.

[xpgeek]

The way you said your husband just, "simply does not go to the doctor", is the real problem of healthcare in this country. Neither do I, as I still owe the hospital 5 thousand bucks, and don't go to the hospital unless I am literally bleeding from the head or something.

But it is uninsured Americans not going to the doctor or hospital unless absolutely necessary, not getting regular checkups, that is the real problem. I could have cancer or something right now, and not know it, and have it be far too late to do anything about it by the time physical symptoms actually get me to a doctor.

And prescriptions, in this country, are literally a joke almost. Drug prices are insane. I know a woman, whose husband had to have a kidney transplant, that was paying 2,500 dollars a month for anti rejection kidney meds, she had to take a loan out from the bank to pay for the meds. I myself was on some meds a few years ago, and they cost me almost 300 bucks a month, full price, no discounts. Many of the drug companys offer programs for free and or cheap meds, but the loops you have to jump through to get into one are just stupid. They purposely make it as difficult as possible so only the truly determined will see it all the way through and get in.

And on top of all that, the importing of cheaper meds from Canada is now banned in this country, tho can still be done via the internet, but you're in trouble if caught. The reason for the ban, according to the Bush administration, is lack of testing and them being unsafe, which is a effin bunch of bull if you ask me, thats campaign contributions from drug companys paying off.

[L-knot]

So my trips to the dentist are at full price, although my dentist gives me a discount. My reading glasses that I just got so I can see this computer were another $219 out of my pocket.

I'm on a dental plan - http://www.dentalplans.com/ - which does save quite a bit of money.

My reading glasses are the cheap off the rack $3.00 but they seem to work fine.

Doctors are the 3rd leading cause of death - many prescription related - http://www.naturodoc.com/library/public_health/doctors_cause_death.htm

I think I'll take my chances without doctors - unless of course I'm bleeding or some other trauma. There's always the free clinic.

[FisionChips]

:shock: OK - so this might sound really naieve but, if you are uninsured and are involved in a traffic accident, do you have to pay for emergency healthcare?

[L-knot]

Everyone is required to carry liability insurance

[odidio]

Makes you think, being in Canada I guess it's kind of taken for granted, go to the Doc or hospital and not have to worry about a huge bill comming to cause sudden hyperventilation, lol.

I know my sister with her husband and two kids, now in Indiana, pray that they never get sick or have to the hospital, they just can't afford it even though they have good jobs.

:(

[L-knot]

I'd rather save my money for a rainy day rather than give it to some insurance company which I haven't used in 20 years.

[zimagirl79]

I'm on a dental plan - http://www.dentalplans.com/ - which does save quite a bit of money.

My reading glasses are the cheap off the rack $3.00 but they seem to work fine.

My dentist gives me a similar discount to what those plans offer, and I don't have to pay a yearly fee to get the discount. It helps that the dentist is an old friend. ;)

My reading glasses are not the same as what you buy off the rack. I have astigmatism in both eyes, and I'm far-sighted. It makes for an odd prescription that can't be bought off the rack. I waited as long as I could before I broke down and admitted I needed a new pair. It is amazing to me how much clearer everything is when I'm sitting here, and I don't have headaches as often as I was having them.

[xpgeek]

Everyone is required to have liability insurance, yes the drivers, assuming the traffic accident is two cars.

To answer the question more thoroughly tho, if a pedestrian, walking, no car, gets into a traffic accident, hit by a car, yes we are still required to pay for emergency health care. It is against the law to deny an uninsured person medical treatment at a hospital, but they will still be billed for it. Of course they can just then sue the driver to pay for the medical bill.

[FisionChips]

ok - so say a pedestrian is hit by a hit and run driver and lies at the side of the street dying and has no insurance - does the ambulance just leave him there?

[xpgeek]

No of course not, it is against the law to deny an uninsured person medical treatment at a hospital, they will be cared for, they just will be later billed for it.

[L-knot]

.......then it goes to a collection agency and will eventually show up in your credit history if never paid - if you care, it matters.

[xpgeek]

My credit history is a wreck, lol, the collection agencys don't bother to call me anymore cause they never get anywhere.

[Micron]

You owe me 5$, pay up or your avatar gets it. :Stab:

[xpgeek]

Go ahead and sue me. Collection agencys already have. lol

[FisionChips]

(Sound of jaw hitting table) What a system! - sorry folks but 'man gets knocked down in street and ends up alive but crippled with lifetime debt as a result' just isn't civilization....

I knock the UK a lot, the way we treat our elderly is dreadful for example, but there's some places I just don't fathom at all... I think the US is one of them now.

What I can't understand is why so many Americans find this state of affairs acceptable? I think there would be riots on the streets here if such a system were suggested.

[xpgeek]

Not many Americans do find it 'acceptable', but, its just the way it is. Big business practically controls the government, insurance companys and HMO's make big campaign contributions, politicians return the favor by not doing anything about it.