Health Care BS

A consistent refrain sung by the socialized medicine crowd is that universal health coverage will generally improve the medical care received by the uninsured. Well, as usual, the facts do not support their claims. This 2006 study in the NEJM found no connection between coverage and quality of care:

We found that health insurance status was largely unrelated to the quality of care among those with at least minimal access to care.

And increased access is also irrelevant:

Although having insurance increases the ease of access to the health care system, it is not sufficient to ensure appropriate use of services or content of care.

Well, you say, that’s the U.S. What about “civilized” countries?

In the United Kingdom, with universal coverage, a study using our methods found that the overall proportion of recommended health care that was received was similar to what we have reported.

Once again, a favorite talking point of the socialized medicine crowd is shown to be nonsense. Not that the facts matter to these people. 

[via Cato Blog]