PWE047 Misconceptions about Healthcare in Europe vs the US

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E047

Misconceptions about Healthcare in Europe vs US

Key takeaway: Randy and James discuss healthcare systems in the Americas and Europe, drawing on their personal experience, and offer tips on how to be your own best advocate for your health.

Topics covered in this video: 

• Why the headlines about the cost of medical care in a country don’t tell the whole picture
• Costs of healthcare differ from country to country, but often largely due to how the money is collected and paid (via taxation, by companies, by individuals, etc.)
• Qualitative outcomes do differ greatly from country to country: the U.S., Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, Romania, etc.
• Costs of socialized healthcare reflect societal decisions about how much to invest in it
• Why healthcare costs are legitimately high (doctors, medicine, equipment)
• How “free riders” affect costs for everyone
• Cultural influences affect costs: lawsuit risk, and expectations for all measures to be taken
• Some interventions are focused on length of life and not necessarily quality of life 
• Important to be an informed patient because doctors’ and pharma companies’ incentives don’t always align with patients
• How you can be your own best advocate regarding your own health