Similar Pressures, Different Contexts: Public Attitudes toward Government Intervention for Health Care in 21 Nations -- Kikuzawa et al. 49 (4): 385 -- Journal of Health and Social Behavior

Similar Pressures, Different Contexts: Public Attitudes toward Government Intervention for Health Care in 21 Nations -- Kikuzawa et al. 49 (4): 385 -- Journal of Health and Social Behavior

Our findings indicate that public attitudes cluster around the historical organization of health care, but also relate to current economic and demographic realities. Individuals in countries adopting the "National Health Service Model" (the state directly provides health care but complete state control is absent) or the "Centralized Model" (the state directly provides health care and has much control) are more supportive of government involvement in health care than those in the "Insurance Model" (the state is limited to maintenance of the system) countries. However, citizens in countries currently spending more on health care and having a greater burden of chronic illness are less supportive.

Economic Scene - Real Choice? It’s Off-Limits in Health Bills - NYTimes.com

Economic Scene - Real Choice? It’s Off-Limits in Health Bills - NYTimes.com

Americans give lower marks to their health insurer than they do to their life insurer, their auto insurer or their bank, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Even the Postal Service gets better marks. (Cable companies, however, get worse ones.) No wonder President Obama’s favorite villain is health insurers.

U.S. Life Expectancy Hits a New High of 78 - ABC News

U.S. Life Expectancy Hits a New High of 78 - ABC News

The United States has lower life expectancies overall than comparable developed countries.

Life expectancy for babies born in Japan and Singapore has reached 82. French babies will live to be 80.9 on average, while those born in Sweden, Italy, Australia and Canada can expect to live to be more than 80.

Newborn Tunisians can expect to live on average to be 75, and Guatemalans to 70. AIDS-ravaged Zimbabwe has an average life expectancy of only 39.7.

A Public Option vs. Co-ops: What's the Difference? - TIME

A Public Option vs. Co-ops: What's the Difference? - TIME

The version of the Public Plan that's often talked about is one that is tied to Medicare. [Medicare is a government-run healthcare plan for the elderly.] People who see the Public Option as hopeful believe that we need strong cost containment in the healthcare system, and that private industry will never be able to do that for a number of reasons. These people view the Public Plan as a mechanism by which we can both increase healthcare coverage to all Americans and control spending. Typically in their versions of the plan, it ties prices—doctor and hospital fees—to what Medicare pays. Also, it assumes that doctors get strong incentives, if not a mandate, to participate in the Public Plan.