Re:Heart Surgery in India for $1,583 Costs $106,385 in U.S.
by srinivasanv on Monday July 29, 2013 @08:10PM
(#6124679)
The $2 figure quoted for Indian is not the middle 2/3, but the lowest 2/3, so it would have very little to do with the median. Let's go by the figures we actually have (mean):
Per-capita income in India is $1492 Per-capita income in the USA is $49,922
So, it's around 1583/1492 = 1.06 years of work in India. And, 106385/49922 = 2.13 years of work in the USA.
And since the hospital price is actually 95k Indian rupees, exchange-rate fluctuations do not matter.
Re:Heart Surgery in India for $1,583 Costs $106,385 in U.S.
by goggles99 on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @03:06AM
(#6125694)
Here is what makes up the difference. In America, law mandates that hospitals treat anyone regardless of income, insurance possession or immigration status. Go to the hospital in India as an illegal alien and not only will you not get treatment, you will be jailed, then deported. Covering illegals and the uninsured is a HUGE cost that health care systems have to bear. Of course there are other things in America which drive up health costs, but treating illegals and chronically ill patients who have no insurance is the biggest. There are other major factors as well, but these laws alone bridge the gap in your calculations.
Re:Heart Surgery in India for $1,583 Costs $106,385 in U.S.
by devdas on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @06:50AM
(#6126188)
Umm, no one ever asks you about insurance unless you claim to have it? There are no checks for illegal immigrants.
Chronically ill patients can still seek treatment, they may or may not be able to afford it though.
Well, the article says 2/3 of people live on $2/day, implying this surgery is $1600/$2/day = 800 days worth of work.
Taking the US median income of $45k (since I don't know the 2/3 number off the top of my head), that implies the equivalent price in the US would be ($45k/365) * 800 = $98,630. So, right about the same as at the Cleveland Clinic.