Universal Coverage Improves Preventive Care

One area where America is far behind in delivering high quality health care is in the area of preventive services.  Preventive services are not terribly expensive, yet they pay enormous dividends in avoiding far greater costs that come from needing to treat preventable illness, or to treat poorly managed disease.

Gerard F. Anderson and Patricia Markovich, two researchers at Johns Hopkins, completed a study funded in part by Commonwealth Fund entitled Multinational Comparisons of Health Systems Data, 2009.  Two interesting comparisons show the strong benefits of universal coverage in obtaining better preventive healthcare outcomes.

The following graph shows the impact of poor diabetic care in the United States versus nine other countries.  Americans lose 99 years of life per 100,000, a rate that is 50 percent greater than the next worst performing country, and a rate that is three to five times greater than eight other countries.  American endocrinologists can manage diabetes as well as specialists in other countries, but patients need the financial resources to allow for regular follow-up care, routine monitoring and supplies, and insulin and/or medicines required to treat the disease.  (Click to enlarge graph.)

While not a perfect comparison, the following chart, which shows immunization rates for those over age 65, supports the argument that with universal coverage, we do about as well as other nations.  Because of Medicare, those over 65 are the only American population cohort that currently enjoys universal coverage.  When compared with other nations immunization rates, the United States' senior population falls in the middle of the pack -- having the fifth highest influenza immunization rate among 10 countries.  (Click to enlarge graph.)

Universal coverage also produces better outcomes for diseases that we know how to treat.  You can read more here about how America ranks last among 19 countries in preventing mortality resulting from diseases that we can treat successfully when patients have access to insurance coverage.

When the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, life will be better, and there will be more of it for American diabetics.  When this important law is fully implemented, life will be better, and there will be more of it for all Americans.