Between 2021 and 2022, U.S. life expectancy jumped more than 12 months, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An American born today can now expect to live 77.5 years — up from 76.4 in 2021.
Predictably, this good news didn’t register with progressives working to put the government in charge of the country’s healthcare system. They constantly point out that the United States has lower life expectancy than other high-income countries. Some insist we’d live longer with a government-run healthcare system styled after Canada, or a government-dominated system of universal coverage as exists in Britain or Germany.
But our life expectancy lag is not a function of our healthcare system. Americans die sooner than people in other developed nations because of everything from the lingering effects of the pandemic, to cultural issues such as drug abuse, obesity, gun violence, and car accidents. Putting the government in charge of health care would not address these issues.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Government run health care won’t improve life expectancy
Sally C. Pipes
Between 2021 and 2022, U.S. life expectancy jumped more than 12 months, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An American born today can now expect to live 77.5 years — up from 76.4 in 2021.
Predictably, this good news didn’t register with progressives working to put the government in charge of the country’s healthcare system. They constantly point out that the United States has lower life expectancy than other high-income countries. Some insist we’d live longer with a government-run healthcare system styled after Canada, or a government-dominated system of universal coverage as exists in Britain or Germany.
But our life expectancy lag is not a function of our healthcare system. Americans die sooner than people in other developed nations because of everything from the lingering effects of the pandemic, to cultural issues such as drug abuse, obesity, gun violence, and car accidents. Putting the government in charge of health care would not address these issues.
Click to read the full article in The Detroit News.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.