The American Myth

America has the best health care system in the world! We've all heard this on political talk shows and from members of Congress, but saying it doesn't make it so. I wish it was true! But just because we're America doesn't always mean we're the best. In fact, this blind acceptance of American superiority has become so wide-spread that I think it has begun to prevent us from seeing something really important: reality. The reality is that the WHO has consistently ranked the country where I live, France, as the country with the best health care in the world. Why? Because it is fairly paid for, it is of high quality, and it provides access to 99.9% of the population. Even non-French residents like myself. The USA, if you're wondering, ranks 37th. The best in the world! Except for those 36 other countries...

But Todd, it's a government-run, socialized system, so doesn't that mean that there is rationing and long waits for treatment?

As a matter of fact, no! Even though it is government-run, you choose your own doctor and they are free to refer you to whomever they see fit or prescribe you whatever treatment they see fit, even if that means you'll need to miss a week of work. By the way, there are no limits on sick days in France. If the doctor deems it necessary for you to miss work to get well, then you get an arrêt de travail and your employer has to continue you to pay you.

That must cost a fortune! Right?

Well, France spends a lot on health care, about 11.2% of the GDP, which is still far less than the US, which spends 15.2% of its GDP. And the French are taking actions to reduce fraud and abuse, and investing in new technologies to further reduce costs. This is, of course, difficult, but far simpler when it's a single-payer system and not a web of complicated private systems that vary from state to state, like in the US.

Yeah, but socialized medicine stifles research and medical advances. That's undeniable!

Actually, no. This may be the case in some countries, but this is certainly not the rule. France is consistently in the forefront of medical advances. From isolating the HIV virus to advances in stem cells and medical equipment and surgical procedures, the French have demonstrated that single-payer health care isn't incompatible with medical advances.

Today, the US Congress may pass an historic bill that will reform health care. It will not, unfortunately, create a system like in France. It won't be socialism. It won't be a government take-over. People will remain uncovered, people will still spend far too much. The reform proposed is far from perfect, but it will be an improvement. We won't be #1 anytime soon, but 37th is unacceptable!