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Report: U.S. Has the Worst Health Care System Compared to These Countries

By U.S. News & World Report

As the U.S. is embroiled in a bitter battle to overhaul its current health care system, a new report finds that the country has the worst health care system among high-income countries.

America ranked last for overall performance and last or near last when it came to data points like access to care, administrative efficiency, equity and health care outcomes, according to a new report published Friday by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that strives to improve health care in America. Paradoxically, the U.S. spends more money on health care compared to other high-income countries, which is notable given its poor performance, the report states.

Though the U.S. ranked lowest in health care outcomes — and performed badly when it came to population health outcomes involving infant mortality and life expectancy at age 60 — it performed better on certain measures like in-hospital deaths in the month following a heart attack or stroke, according to the report.

The Commonwealth Fund compared the U.S. to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K.

“The results suggest the U.S. health care system should look at other countries’ approaches if it wants to achieve an affordable high-performing health care system that serves all Americans,” the report’s abstract states.

Data for the study came from comparative survey research, in addition to comparative data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, and the World Health Organization.

The U.S. health care system has been under a finely-tuned microscope in recent months as Republicans strive to repeal and replace former President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. While the House managed to pass a controversial health care bill back in May, the Senate is struggling to do the same.

“Current proposals being debated in Congress could undo most of that progress by increasing the number of people without health insurance by more than 20 million over the next decade,” Benjamin Sommers of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health told New Scientist. “Rather than narrowing the gap with its rivals, the US might fall further behind.”

The Senate GOP’s latest attempt to move a bill along hit a snag over the weekend, as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had to undergo eye surgery to remove a blood clot. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement delaying consideration of the bill as McCain recovers. Just one senator could sink the bill’s prospects, given that Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) have already said they couldn’t support this version of the bill.

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Report: U.S. Has the Worst Health Care System Compared to These Countries originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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