On the graph, Americans average about 5 sick days a year, Britons about 5.5. So if the average American averaged only half a day of presentism, then yes, that would be clearly more productive than the Briton’s extra half day of absenteeism, even if the average Briton’s “presentism” were zero.
On the other hand, if the average American averaged ten more days of presentism than the Briton, and his productivity were reduced by 25% during those days, that would be equal to 2.5 days of absenteeism, considerably more costly than the Briton’s extra half day of absenteeism.
I concede that this in no way refutes your evidence; it merely points to potential approaches to answering it.
True. It also goes to show how ridiculous the claim in the blog is, which was that the $7 trillion lost to productivity due to absentism and presentism would miraculously completely disappear, if only UHC was implemented.
Other countries do not have this ridiculous American “work ethic” where people feel like their jobs, or promotions, or upward mobility in a company requires them to drag their sorry, sniffly asses to work even if they’re shedding virus right and left and sharing it with their co-workers (who will then have to drag their sorry, sniffly asses to work a few days later). Therefore, people in other countries prudently take more sick days.
Other countries have more generous numbers of PTO days per year, so that people feel they can stay home when they are moderately sick and don’t feel like they have to hoard them against the possibility of more serious illness later in the year. Therefore, people in other countries prudently take more sick days when they need them.
The central conceit in so many of these arguments is that the USA exists in a vacuum, like the general financial model hasn’t existed and been refined for 100 years (Germany), 60 years (the UK), 10 years or so (Italy), or in all the other first world economies.
C’mon. Even the president has backed away from that absurd number. Subtract out illegals, middle class people who choose not to purchase insurance, the young who choose not to purchase insurance, and those who qualify for medicaid but fail to sign up and the number is really somewhere between 8 and 12 million.
How is this even mathematically possible? An $800 billion spending bill which is funded partially with cuts from other programs, simply will not cut anything from the budget deficit. Based on the figures you gave, it could only add $400 billion to the deficit which of course will likely need to be funded by something other than more deficit spending, such as addional taxes or program fees.
Not true. But add in that 2/3 rds of bankruptcies are due to medical expenses and that 3/4 of those people had insurance, then you must understand what a mess we have. We don’t have health insurance but we pay double for it. How stupid does a system have to be before we reject it?
The cost of insurance goes directly into the products we make. Does that make us more competitive or less? Does the company have a motive to cut back on insurance? If you want to change jobs, you have to consider that you will be uncovered for 3 months while the new company qualifies you. How comfortable does that make you? If your wife gets pregnant then, the insurance company can reject you for pre-existing conditions. Don’t break your leg or get sick then.
We pay the most, get the least and harm our industries ability to compete. What is there about that system that you think should be saved? Do you enjoy fighting your insurance company every time something goes wrong?
I wasn’t arguing any of those points. I just pointed out that you are wrong about the true number of uninsured but you choose to dismiss this point. Even the president isn’t using the 50 million number any more…even he has the sense to subtract out the illegals.
Study: 86.7 million Americans uninsured over last two years - CNN.com I really don’t want to play that numbers game. I can drop countering cites on you all day. The fact is the uninsured are a huge problem and it is growing. More than that, people who think they are insured often find out that are not because the insurance company will weasel out of paying , even though they have been collecting premiums to do so. The numbers are getting bigger every day. It is shameful and unworthy of America.
“Lost productivity” equals very indirect govt revenue. Universal Healthcare will be damned expensive. I wish the Pubbies would just keep it at that- no fucking death panels or other lies, just that “it’s too fucking expensive”. (I am not saying that it IS too fucking expensive, but it will be damn expensive, like it or no.)
The healthy young opting out is a major problem here. IN countries with UHC they don’t have that choice, so the total cost of care is spread among a larger and statistically healthier population. Paying $50 a month (hypothetically) for health insurance at age twenty-five may seem just wonderful, but at the age of near-Medicare eligibility it can cost you over a thousand.
You don’t want to play the numbers game because your numbers are bullshit and you know it. Your cite doesn’t even address the issues I mentioned. Please…drop away.
What is your point? My point is that the healthy young who choose not to purchase insurance should not be counted as the uninsured who cannot afford insurance. Who can blame the young for wanting to keep their money and paying for care as they need it. This is a gamble for the young but we have the freedom to make our own choices.
No I don’t want to play the numbers game because the Fox news numbers are bullshit. It is a waste of time. Do not say why i chose not to play it. You are wrong. I think it would be a distraction from the point. Which is that our present system will bankrupt the country. We have an overpriced system that is broken. It has to be replaced. That is the bottom line. Start a thread about the numbers if you choose. Then I will educate you. But this is not the place.
I dare say, however, that the health bill that was recently passed is definitely not going to work, and it won’t even be a step in the right direction for replacing our present over-priced and broken healthcare system. If you can possibly get hold of and rent the film “Sicko”, I strongly recommend it, since it gives some real insight as to the condition of our healthcare system and compares it with other countries. Ours did not come out to be favorable, if one gets the drift.
Btw, Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich was one of the few that had the guts and gumption to vote against this bill. Good for him!!