I read a fascinating article about the Israeli healthcare system earlier this month at www.NEJM.org in the article”‘Not Socialized Medicine’ – An Israeli View of Health Care Reform.” It was published in a February issue. This came on the heels of the revelations learned about the Israeli response to the Haiti earthquake disaster described in the news. Israel is really on the cutting edge of everything medical. Did you hear about their Haiti involvement?

Before any other country had even unpacked its bags, the Israeli medical teams were up and running. Among their advantages are those amazing futuristic medical tents, each designed for specific needs – neonatal, orthopedic trauma, cardiac, ob/gyn, etc. They are totally contained medical tents, complete with all instruments and specific meds needed, ready to hit the ground running. These impressed everyone, including me. I was left wondering “Why didn’t Americans think of this first” and I realized that we had not been tested like the Israelis had.

So I read the article in the NEJM even more closely and I learned a great deal more from their example. We need to pay attention to what they are doing and learn from them.

Consider these startling statistics:

• In 2007 the US spent 15% of its GDP on healthcare, while Israel spent 8%.
• Americans work 2 months to pay their medical bills, almost 2x longer than Israelis.
• Americans spent over $6K for healthcare while Israelis spend less than $2K.

In spite of those staggeringly lower costs the average Israeli citizen lives LONGER than his US counterpart. Go figure! The Israeli life expectancy at birth is 80.3 years when compared to the U.S.  at 77.8 years. It is interesting to note that the Israeli citizens also enjoy the comfort that comes with health insurance for life. Unfortunately, in the United States, a great number of our citizens do not have that same right.

An interesting point was made:

“When seeking a job, the average Israeli is concerned about prospective earnings and job satisfaction but need not consider medical insurance…” How wonderful.

The article reports that by putting into law the national Health Insurance Law in January 1995 Israel joined “other developed countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Britain in embracing what can be considered the emerging paradigm of developed health care systems. The principles of this paradigm are apparent in Israel’s system.”

I, personally, as an American, felt insulted to not be able to be included among the “developed countries” but it is our own fault, isn’t it?  

The “developed countries” healthcare system includes:

Firstly, universal entitlement to a set core of medical benefits based on medical conditions not on employment status, place of work, or the level of one’s mandated contributions to the system.

Secondly, these entitlements are funded through compulsory, income-based contributions used for the funding of healthcare only.

Thirdly, the addition of private funding allows citizens the ability to obtain additional benefits if they decide to do so. As the article states,” Israelis can purchase private insurance to bolster their publicly supported protection.”

The fourth important point is that 80% of the public budget is allocated toward four competing sickness funds that procure care for their members, similar to our own Medicare fund.

The final component is that participating plans have to maintain open enrollment at a set period during the year during which all applicants who want to join or switch from a plan must be allowed to do so, irregardless of pre-existing conditions.

Hallelujah! A humane, first world country solution. When will our country join in?