this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2024
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As usual with those sorts of memes, the numbers are completely wrong. European nations spend around 11-12% of GDP on healthcare vs about 17% for the US. So you'd likely pay significantly less (about 30% less) with a similar public healthcare system, but far more than this pic pretends.
Remember kids, don't believe everything you see on the internet.
US GDP is much higher than most (all?) European nations. California, on its own, is the fifth (at least the last time I looked) largest GDP in the world when compared to nations.
The US also has a massive population, which means a much larger insurance pool, which means the risk is spread out over a much larger swathe of people (and ethnicities, lifestyles, etc.).
So I'm not going to say this pic is accurate, as I have no actual numbers on this... But I also don't think it's fair to assume that it will cost the same % of GDP as nations that are a fraction of our size (and are often nearly homogeneous population-wise).
And as you accurately pointed out, US population is also higher, and have different costs of living. Which is why we compare countries in % of GDP and not in raw dollars spent nationwide, which would make no sense at all.
Doesn't make any difference when you go over a few million people (or possibly much less)
Well I do, and this pic is clearly bullshit.
Just because you like the message doesn't mean you aren't allowed to point out obvious lies.
Well yeah but percentage of GDP is just the total spent. The point is that the USA relies primarily on employers paying for the insurance (through a pay cut) whereas in the EU it is generally subsidised with taxes. Which, if you tax fairly, means that the cost of healthcare is better for the average worker (e.g more based on how much any individual earns)
Plus it also means that the government has an actual incentive to keep the insurance companies honest
This is a huge misconception. In the EU it's also funded by the employers, the difference is that it's usually mandatory (a tax taken out of the paycheck at the employer level) and also typically goes into a governement-run insurance system (ie the British NHS or the French sécu).
Ultimately it's always people who pay for health care, because companies are just legal entities. The difference is how it's organized and how much it cost.
"30% less" 😂 US GDP (it said % of pay, but let's play your game) per capita is 1.5x or more European countries, so try at least 50% less. It's a meme, it's not meant to be accurate, but if you're going to be a pedant at least be right.
Not to mention the lower cost is like 3rd on the list of reasons why public health care is amazing. Why you our here shilling for big business pal?
That's what every boomer on FB propagating fake news about immigrants eating pets also say. Just because it's a picture means outright lying is okay. (and if it was lying in the other political direction, you'd likely be the first calling bullshit)
Ah yes because everyone who isn't into lying is "shilling for big business"? Life must be simple in your head. Maybe some people think the truth matters more then coddling their feeling?
So when the meme was wrong about 5% vs 20% it was "outright lying" but when you were shown to be wrong about your 30% you just continue on your high horse. Cool beans.
Not a political issue for me anymore thank goodness. Lived in the US for a while but very glad that public health is available for everyone where I live now (as is literally everyone else I know).
I mean private healthcare is strictly worse for everyone except business owners (and doctors without morals I guess). So that's my best guess at your motivation, but please correct me. Why?
You showed nothing. Both the US and Europe mostly rely on making the employer pay, though in Europe it's typically mandatory and sent to a national system rather than the employer deciding by itself (or not) to pay for a private insurer for varying level of coverage. So there's just no way the US employers pay 300% more for a system which is "only" 50% more costly.
(also co-pays are fairly standard everywhere in Europe, to avoid abuses)
My motivation is fighting misinformation. Just because the misinformation comes from the side you support doesn't mean you should ignore it. In this case someone just made up shock numbers to get engagement and clicks, and that's not how you support a sound health care policy.
OK cool, well if "someone is wrong on this Internet" is more important to you than making a case for a better health are system (that I note you have spent 0 energy on) I think I'm done. Thanks for the entertainment of "$5k per person is 30% cheaper than $10k" though, that was a good one.
If you think misinformation and propaganda is "someone being wrong on the internet" you are clearly a lost cause. Hope you enjoy the troll farms!
Never wrote such a thing. Good strawman.
"As usual with those sorts of memes, the numbers are completely wrong. European nations spend around 11-12% of GDP on healthcare vs about 17% for the US. So you'd likely pay significantly less (about 30% less)"
Dis you?