Why is Singapore's health care system superior to ObamaCare? Let's compare Singapore to the Democratic Party ideal (Western Europe and Canada).
Singaporeans live longer than people in the Western European countries whose health care systems the Democrats want to copy:
Singapore's health care system costs less than those in the Western European countries that the Democrats want to copy:
Government spending on health care is lower in Singapore than in the U.S. This is something the small-government crowd should love and the ObamaCare crowd should hate:
While some Democrats are trying to abolish health savings accounts in the U.S. (the Republicans introduced them a few years ago, but they are rarely used), Singapore is evidence that universal health savings accounts are superior to any kind of "public option" or "single payer system".
The reason health savings accounts are so successful is because they get supply and demand working the way they should. This doesn't occur when someone else (e.g. an insurance company or the government) pays the bill.
It is a false choice to believe that the only health care options we have are either big-government or the status quo. Universal health savings accounts provide a third alternative.
Data source.
To learn more about Singapore's health care system, click here.
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10 comments:
How one can compare a city to a country baffles me
Singapore's statistics are twisted: a third of the population participates to the GDP but does not participate to the cost, they also do not lower down the life expectancy: the low wage workers do not get sick, do not die on Singapore, they can only do that in their own country
I am a Singaporean and let me tell you, in Singapore there is a popular saying amongst its people- It is better to fall sick and die than to fall sick and linger.
While basic healthcare is generally affordable, any kind of serious illness will basically leave you in financial ruin. The Singapore government spends as little as they can on healthcare and whatever they deign to spend on is usually on infrastructure than on the people themselves.
Only the very poor are heavily subsidized while the middle classes are expected to take care of themselves either through their own savings or through health insurance.
I'm a Singapore too but my opinion differs from that of Marc's. I feel that Singapore's system works because it is one that is sustainable. People avoid unnecessary treatments because they are paying everything out of their own pockets. For the middle-income, many turns to private insurance to complement their savings account (we call it Medisave)so personal responsibility is crucial.
I am also a Singaporean who is currently residing in the US for work. Well, for one thing, I used to bitch about the H/C sys in SG until I move to the US. Personal accountability is definitely key and moral hazards should be mitigated. I forgot when's the last time I had my teeth cleaned simply because I do not have dental insurance. That would be a $50 walk-in service back home.
Having stayed in both Singapore (20 years) and USA (3 years). I totally agree with what YoGi has said. Comparing with Singapore, the health care system in the US SUCKS!!!!! Going to any doctors, dentist, be it hospital or clinic, you need insurance and the insurance cost up to US700 per month for a family of 3. THAT IS RIDICULOUS!!!! You will never see that in Singapore.
The popular saying that "It is better to fall sick and die than to fall sick and linger" is true but you have the choice to fall sick and see a doctor. Over in the US, the saying would be "Fall sick and die if you do not have insurance"!!!
from the perspective of a medical professional...
most junior doctors in singapore get to work at 6am and often do not leave till 7 or 8pm. saturdays and sundays are half-days (730 to 12). lunch is often optional, and 4-5 times a month they stay back after work and do not go home till almost 12pm the next day.
that is a 90 hour workweek for a take home pay of about 2400 sgd/month (1700 usd).
the system is quite simply overworked. visiting the polyclinic is often a whole-day affair, with the patient seeing the dr for 15mins and waiting for tests, meds, etc the rest of the time. hospital bed occupancy rates are almost always 70-100%. drs have 60 patients to see in an allotted clinic time of 4 hours. increasing numbers of healthcare workers have to be brought in from overseas to help our increasingly-swamped local doctors... cheap healthcare comes at a price. the price is the health and well-being of our healthcare personnel, who slog long hours for so little pay. our system is not terrible, but it is by no means perfect.. at least from my perspective.
Tra, you must be a houseman. heads up, it gets better, or at least the pay does, and Singapore would still have an efficient health care to boast of. At least our relative would most likely be able to afford any form of healthcare! Living in US now, i don't even dare to go to any Emergency room! so well, i guess hard work is always the trade off. no free lunch...
Guys go 2 d UK. Now that is an awesome healthcare system. Btw i agree wif marc n wif yogi. Helath systems in US an SG suck. btw Anonymous u said that SG healthcare is sustainable? we onli spend 3% of our GDP. we can sure as hell afford more. remember our reserves?
Anonymous said...
"we onli spend 3% of our GDP. we can sure as hell afford more."
Wait, you're complaining that Singapore's health care system isn't expensive enough? Singapore has one of the longest life expectancies in the entire world. (3 years longer than the U.K.) Why would you want a more expensive and less effective health care system like the U.K.'s?
A doc in the US would have to do 50 knee replacements just to pay his malpractice insurance, An OB doc likely has to deliver about 50 babies or more to cover his. before any other expense. This cost is ultimately borne by the consumer.
The high cost of the privilege of suing for millions.
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