I got to thinking about this, people in the mid 1950's had to health care that would be considered substandard today, but they didn't die like lemmings. In 1950 the Life expectancy: Women 71.1, men 65.6, today the number are not much better Life Expectancy: Male 73.1 Female 79.1(1997). I would suspect most of the numbers can be explained in improvements to traffic safety than any medical breakthrough. 35% of health care costs are spent on people 65 and older. So assuming you had no health insurance, How long do you think you would live? Other than going to the dentist every year, I have never been hospitalized and I do not take prescription drugs. I think most people could get along fine without any insurance until they are in there 60's. (Assuming a healthy diet, no smoking or other unhealthy activities)
I got to thinking about this, people in the mid 1950's had to health care that would be considered substandard today, but they didn't die like lemmings. In 1950 the Life expectancy: Women 71.1, men 65.6, today the number are not much better Life Expectancy: Male 73.1 Female 79.1(1997). I would suspect most of the numbers can be explained in improvements to traffic safety than any medical breakthrough. 35% of health care costs are spent on people 65 and older. So assuming you had no health insurance, How long do you think you would live? Other than going to the dentist every year, I have never been hospitalized and I do not take prescription drugs. I think most people could get along fine without any insurance until they are in there 60's. (Assuming a healthy diet, no smoking or other unhealthy activities)