MYTH BUSTERS!!

Fact: USA spends far more in healthcare (18% of gross domestic product) than any other nation in the world.^1,2 Despite that, USA ranks below 30 countries for many public health indicators, including preventable deaths,³ infant survival,⁴ maternal mortality,⁵ and overall life expectancy.⁶

Private insurance companies maximize profit by minimizing short-term costs which inherently impedes prioritization of long-term health.⁷ Shortsighted cost cutting catalyzes a cascade of longer-term health and financial repercussions over the lifespan of a patient.

• Canada spends 2X more per capita on prevention (6.2%) as a share of total health expenditure compared to the USA (2.8%).⁸ This is startling in light of elevated prevalence of chronic diseases in the USA.

  • • US men have 28% higher mortality rate from cardiovascular disease compared with Canadian men⁹

Fact: A single-payer system will integrate all providers under a unified financial framework.¹ This restructuring will lead to:

• Erasure of in-network and out-of-network distinctions and the issue of healthcare providers declining to accept individuals based on their insurance status

• Dramatic expansion of patient's choice

• Elimination of system fragmentation that arise from employment transition. This means patients will have access to healthcare even when they lose their employment

A single payer system will EXPAND provider selection by patient!

Fact: Although this statement is empirically supported by the disproportionate high number of young people (who are uninsured), studies have shown that uninsured people are more likely to have undiagnosed comorbidities and conditions that requires increased use of healthcare resources when compared with insured people¹

• 38 million Americans tend to forego necessary treatments and prophylactic treatments.² Uninsured individuals use healthcare services at 50.1% of the rate of those with adequate insurance³

• 41 million Americas are termed underinsured as their insurance plans come with high deductibles and copays.⁴ Underinsured individuals use healthcare services at 86% of the rate of those with adequate insurance⁵

  • • Underinsured people with cancer have a 17% increased risk of metastasis and 30% increased risk of death compared with insured patients⁶

Fact: The Kaiser Family Foundation(KFF) reported in 2015 that the public viewed both Medicare and Medicaid as important government programs¹

• More than three-quarters (77 percent) said Medicare is a very important program, ranking just below Social Security (83 percent)

• More than six in ten (63 percent) said Medicaid is very important

• Surveys dating back to 1999 have found similar opinion about the importance of both programs

• Support was broad among party lines among people aged 65 and older (85 percent of Republicans, 89 percent of independents, and 92 percent of Democrats favor Medicare)

Fact: Based on the 2017 federal report of national healthcare spending by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, proposed changes implementing a single-payer system will ultimately save $687 Billion.¹

Wanna know more about the proposed changes?? Clink here!!