British Lessons on Health Care Reform

Amid widespread recognition that the U.S. health care system cannot continue its current upward cost spiral, forever widening the life-expectancy gap between rich and poor, Britain's National Health Service (NHS) has made a cameo appearance as bogeyman in politically funded, shroud-waving TV ads. These spots warn citizens that if certain of President Barack Obama's health care reforms are pushed through, the country will end up with a Third World, socialized health care system — much like the NHS, heaven forfend.1 The per capita cost of health care in the United States is about twice that in other major industrialized countries. . . .