re: #264 Simply Sarah

‘Rationing’ is often a good thing. Wasteful tests cost the patient time and, in some cases, are harmful or risky. Treatments that don’t work can have dangerous side effects and delay the use of treatments that are actually effective.

The US system is rationed. All health care systems are rationed.

Countries with universal health care ration it based on need. The US system rations it based on wealth. Comparisons clearly demonstrate that rationing based on wealth produces a less efficient, less equitable system, less medical advancement, and a less healthy populace. It does, however, make a small number of people very rich, and also provides superb care to a tiny, wealthy, percentage of the population.

Some people are okay with this, and want to ration further based on wealth. That’s a shame.