While visiting Israel, Republican presidential hopeful and skilled international statesman Mitt Romney praised that country’s healthcare policy:
“Do you realize what health care spending is as a percentage of the GDP in Israel? 8 percent. You spend 8 percent of GDP on health care. And you’re a pretty healthy nation. We spend 18 percent of our GDP on health care. 10 percentage points more. That gap, that 10 percent cost, let me compare that with the size of our military. Our military budget is 4 percent. …. We have to find ways, not just to provide health care to more people, but to find ways to finally manage our health care costs.”
Israel’s health success isn’t due to cultural differences or “the hand of Providence.” It’s because the Israeli government mandates universal health insurance and actively limits medical costs. Mr. Romney instituted mandatory health insurance as governor of Massachusetts, calling it a matter of personal responsibility. So his flight from that successfully proven public healthcare measure is then “irresponsible,” right? Must be due to an opportunistic infection of political expediency. There’s a lot of that going around.
More:
“Romney praises health care in Israel, where research says ‘strong government influence’ has driven down costs,” Sarah Kliff, Washington Post blog
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