this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2023
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American taxpayers footed the bill for at least $1.8 trillion in federal and state health care expenditures in 2022 — about 41% of the nearly $4.5 trillion in both public and private health care spending the U.S. recorded last year, according to the annual report released last week by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

On top of that $1.8 trillion, third-party programs, which are often government-funded, and public health programs accounted for another $600 billion in spending.

This means the U.S. government spent more on health care last year than the governments of Germany, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Austria, and France combined spent to provide universal health care coverage to the whole of their population (335 million in total), which is comparable in size to the U.S. population of 331 million.

Between direct public spending and compulsory, tax-driven insurance programs, Germany spent about $380 billion in health care in 2022; France spent around $300 billion, and so did the U.K.; Italy, $147 billion; Spain, $105 billion; and Austria, $43 billion. The total, $1.2 trillion, is about two-thirds of what the U.S. government spent without offering all of its citizens the option of forgoing private insurance.

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[–] TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee -5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (4 children)

This is a useless metric, the US has more population than all of those countries combined and the healthcare costs in Europe are about half of what they are in the US. This article is reaching towards a conclusion, not really objectively coming to it, although it's not surprising considering the source.

United States 340M (Not 331M)

  • Germany 83M
  • UK 68M
  • Italy 59M
  • Spain 48M
  • Austria 9M
  • France 65M

~ 332M (Not 335M)

(Just the first few results where this information could be looked up, no other criteria applied for these sources)

Guess people just don't like facts.

[–] bobgusford@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

So, all those European countries combined have about the same population as the US, but spend a combined 1.2T, whereas US spends 1.8T?

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee -5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

Even if you consider the population about the same, the healthcare costs in Europe are about half of what they are in the US, so the fact that they spend 30% more than 0.9T is basically them spending 30% per citizen on the proportional healthcare. The real benefit is also, y'know, not going bankrupt over healthcare fees..

The population of the US is more, although not by much. I pointed it out because the results from the article are different, claiming the population from those countries is more than that of the US (no, it isn't) with very different numbers, which hints at the hand they are playing.

[–] slowwooderrunsdeep@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

one reason the costs are lower in Europe is bc govts over there put strict limits on how much providers can charge for services and prescriptions, which is something the US refuses to do. Healthcare costs in the US are made up by pharma companies depending on how much they think they can get away with.

[–] StuffYouFear@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Study is also worthless because this is also assuming same for same engagement for services, but that is doubtful as most US citizens attempt to avoid Healthcare as if something isn't covered, you may involuntarily bankrupt yourself. In the other countries listed, there is a lack of fear so a average citizen may be engaging with their healthcare system more often.

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

Being able to engage more freely with your doctor also helps keep the healthcare costs down because people can solve their health issues before they really become costly.

[–] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

only a conservative could say "yeah, it's less money overall but it's more money once you normalize to assume that it's the same amount of money"

you're talking shit, man. stop it.

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Sorry you find logic so difficult. It's as simple as healthcare cost in US is higher, therefore costs more. Almost every comment except yours that replied to mine understood this really utterly simple fact to understand, but considering how you devolve the discussion into name calling, I don't really believe you had any other intent than trolling.

[–] Government_Worker666@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The article is comparing 2022 costs/populations. Your link is estimated 2023 populations. The article is literally about healthcare costs. The article also states there is an additional 600 billion that is paid. 1.2T vs 1.8T + 600B = double the costs. Your second link seems to agree with this article.

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

The article is literally about how much government spends on healthcare, not how much that healthcare costs ...

[–] JackbyDev@programming.dev 4 points 11 months ago (2 children)

It's like you didn't read the article.

This means the U.S. government spent more on health care last year than the governments of Germany, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Austria, and France combined spent to provide universal health care coverage to the whole of their population (335 million in total), which is comparable in size to the U.S. population of 331 million.

[–] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

dude didn't even read his own comment. he legit went "yeah, well healthcare is cheaper in europe" as though that proved his point and not the point of the article.

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

The article is literally about how much government spends on healthcare, not how much that healthcare costs …

[–] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

healthcare costs in Europe are about half of what they are in the US

you see where that's the point the article is getting at, right? why do they pay less?

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemm.ee 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Holy spamming troll. Any other comment you'd care to spam under, you insecure little snowflake? Just make your point and move on. Instead you are just replying under every other comment like the bad toxic shit you are.