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This amazing quartet of flag scatter plots shows how different the US health care situation is compared to other G7 countries (all of which have some form of single-payer).

The top left flag scatter plot shows life expectancy vs per person health costs. The US spends a factor of two more than other countries and yet has the lowest life expectancy. The surprising trend among G7 countries is that higher health care costs correlates with lower life expectancy.

The top right flag scatter plot shows life expectancy vs percent public spending on health care. The higher percentage of public spending on health care the higher the life expectancy.

The bottom left flag scatter plot shows infant mortality vs per person health costs. The US spends a factor of two more than other countries and yet has the highest infant mortality rate. The surprising trend among G7 countries is that higher health care costs correlates with higher infant mortality.

The bottom right flag scatter plot shows infant mortality vs percent public spending on health care. The higher percentage of public spending on health care the lower the infant mortality rate.

The overall message of this quartet of flag scatter plots is that, among the G7 countries, public spending on health care leads to good results and high private spending correlates with poor outcomes. If we can move more in line with our G7 counterparts we would save 1 trillion dollar a year, live 2.5 years longer and suffer 10,000 fewer infant deaths per year.

This flag scatter plot shows life expectancy vs the percent of GDP spend on health care. The US spends a much higher percent than other OECD countries and yet has medium life expectancy. All OECD countries expect Mexico and the US have some form of single payer health care.

To make your own flag scatter plots go to flagscatter.com

The data source is oecd.org.

Health care costs as percent of GDP vs year along with US presidential terms. This data graphic shows that before the 1980s the US was not terribly out of line with other OECD countries. US health care costs spiked in remarkably similar way with both Bush presidencies.

The US sprung ahead of other OECD nations in the 1980s. Costs were flat for around 8 years in the 1990s and then took a big jump just after 2000.

Infant mortality per 1000 vs heath care spending for the G8 countries.

It seems strange that the more countries spend the higher the infant mortality rate.

I guess how much a county pays for health care is more a sign of oppression than a cause to expect good care.