The United States Vs. Foreign Health Care

Americans with decent health insurance still cling to a near-legendary belief that the US offers the highest quality medical care in the world. Now, with the cost of doctors, HMOs, prescription medications, and hospitals skyrocketing out of control may cause deep and lasting despair among the uninsured, and the unending battles with insurance companies most everyone is feeling more than a bit demoralized. But with all of that, American's are still deeply suspicious of other varieties of health care. They look down their noses at Latin America and shudder at the thought of the socialized medical care offered the UK and Canada.

Canadians may express a note of dismay over their universal health care system, and openly acknowledge the issues with medical delays in their country, but ask a Canadian what the worst thing about driving to Mexico is and their likely to admit they're terrified of getting ill while driving through the United States to get there. In fact, there are travel companies who sell specialized insurance for that purpose alone.

Even knowing that, the legend is a difficult one to let go of. When I first left the United States in 2005, I was Scotland bound and convinced that the US health care system was the best in the world. My first trip to a Scottish dentist did little to convince me otherwise. It was later, during a routine physical that I began to change my mind. And now, having received medical treatment in some form or other in four non-US countries, I am beginning to believe American's have been fed a bunch of hooey. In 2008, Newsweek referred to the belief in American health care as the world's finest as 'misguided medical chauvinism.'

In category after category, from infant mortality to cancer survival rates, the US has seen its world wide health care rankings drop. In the 2007 World Health Organization rankings, the United States came in with an overall ranking of 37- just above Slovenia. And when it comes to providing affordable care and insurance to both the rich and the poor, the US barely makes the charts, ranking below Honduras, Thailand, Romania, and the Dominican Republic.

That being said, the United States still has some of the best medical facilities in the world, staffed by the best-trained physicians and surgeons. And patients flock here from all corners of the globe when their case is... complicated. But these services are generally only available to the wealthy. And even then, they are not unchallenged. Medical care in France is at least the equal for speciality care and the French currently lead the world in preventative care, with other European countries closing in fast.

In Latin America, many countries do not have the facilities and technology available in the US, but the quality of care in urban areas is good and can be had for a fraction of the cost of US treatment. Many Americans who seek health care south of the border report their care as being more humane, more affordable, and just as good as what they are used to getting at home. The issues the United States has with insurance and it's inability to offer quality care to every citizen may correct itself with time and support, but there's not doubt there is a lot of catching up to do.