>>>But remember, the quality of the actual medical care is still ranked high.
>
>No, it isn't. The numbers say the US has average quality healthcare.

No, JR, even the numbers themselves credit the direct patient care as high. What this boils down to, is what is meant by "quality health care". Some of the metrics here get into outreach and you are talking an entire different (and certainly important) ball game.

Analysis 101 teaches us to look into what metrics are used for the indicator. If the question is one of people affording it, I'll grant that's been an issue. Though as I stated in a prior post, that 47 million number is a pure B.S. number that factors in illegal immigrants, job-transients, young people who elect not to get it, and people who qualify for other govt programs but (for whatever reason) chose not to follow up. It's also very questionable to compare countries - many places in Europe have tax collection rates that exceed anything that's going to be tolerated here in the U.S.

I'm not standing here saying, "U.S. is the best, rah rah rah"....believe me, of all the industries where I'd love to see some good targeted legislation slapped, it's health insurance companies. But what I am saying is that I find the metrics behind these indicators to be quite specious. And really, you should as well.