> yet it has about the same life expectancy as an average European country
Not quite. Let's take, for the sake of quantification, the life expectancy of a developed western European country: France. Considered poor when compared to American wages, it has health care system of average quality when compared to its neighbours. (So this could be done with any other west European country)
2023 life expectancy: 83.5 years.
2023 life expectancy USA: 79.3 years. Which is the same life expectancy as France in 2000/2001.
> They are somewhat more optimized for efficiency and the US healthcare system is much more optimized for outcomes - partly because Americans are so litigious
So by having the "customer" die early the system ensures that they can't be sued..?
Not quite. Let's take, for the sake of quantification, the life expectancy of a developed western European country: France. Considered poor when compared to American wages, it has health care system of average quality when compared to its neighbours. (So this could be done with any other west European country)
2023 life expectancy: 83.5 years.
2023 life expectancy USA: 79.3 years. Which is the same life expectancy as France in 2000/2001.
> They are somewhat more optimized for efficiency and the US healthcare system is much more optimized for outcomes - partly because Americans are so litigious
So by having the "customer" die early the system ensures that they can't be sued..?