Jonathan Hall, an American formerly residing in Kentucky, moved to Norway several decades ago. He talks about Norway’s healthcare system, which he loves. It is what a humane moral system looks like.
Jonathan Miller on healthcare in Norway
This is Jonathan Hall’s story about his son, who was hospitalized in Norway after a catastrophic crash. If he had been in America, the ordeal would have bankrupted him. Instead, it costs Mr. Hall nothing other than the taxes he pays. Norway has a better system. America needs Medicare for All.
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Summary (VIDEO)
Jonathan Hall, an American in Norway, shares his transformative experience with Norway’s universal healthcare system, contrasting it with the costly and profit-driven U.S. model. He recounts his son’s extensive, fully covered medical treatment after a severe accident, highlights the simplicity and efficiency of Norway’s system, and reflects on the preventable death of a friend in the U.S. due to a lack of access to care. Hall emphasizes that healthcare as a right, funded through moderate taxation, leads to better outcomes and a more humane society.
Key Points
- Universal Coverage: Norway’s healthcare system guarantees free or low-cost care for everyone, funded through taxes.
- Efficiency and Cost Savings: Norway spends 10.4% of its GDP on healthcare, compared to 17.8% in the U.S., achieving better outcomes.
- Patient-Centered Care: No insurance paperwork or profit motives—just direct interaction with healthcare professionals.
- Human Impact: Hall’s son received extensive care without financial burden, while a friend in the U.S. died from untreated conditions.
- Systemic Justice: Universal healthcare reflects a collective commitment to equality and ensures no one is left behind.
Progressive Perspective
Jonathan’s story underscores the moral imperative for universal healthcare in the United States. His experience in Norway reveals that healthcare can be accessible, humane, and cost-effective when profit is removed. It is a testament to what Americans deserve—a system that prioritizes human dignity over corporate greed.
Jonathan Hall’s narrative, an American expatriate living in Norway, highlights a stark contrast between the U.S. and Norwegian healthcare systems. His story provides an opportunity to reflect on the inherent flaws in the U.S. medical-industrial complex and envision a more equitable, humane system for all.
The Core of Norway’s Healthcare Model
Norway’s healthcare system is built on the principle that healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Funded through taxation, the system ensures that every individual has access to essential medical services regardless of socioeconomic status. For Jonathan and his family, this meant that a life-altering accident involving his son did not result in financial ruin. From emergency transportation via helicopter to extensive rehabilitation, every step of his son’s recovery was handled without the burden of excessive bills.
Contrast this with the United States, where even a single emergency room visit can cost thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. Americans often forego necessary medical care due to cost concerns, leading to worsening health outcomes and preventable deaths. In Norway, such decisions do not exist because the focus is on care rather than cost.
Simplicity and Efficiency: Hallmarks of Norway’s System
Jonathan emphasized the simplicity of the Norwegian system. Patients interact with healthcare professionals—not insurance companies. There are no convoluted forms to fill out, no debates over coverage, and no denials based on preexisting conditions. This streamlined approach is not just more humane; it is also more efficient.
According to Hall, Norway spends 10.4% of its GDP on healthcare, compared to 17.8% in the United States. This significant difference is not because Norwegians receive inferior care—quite the opposite. The disparity is attributed to the U.S. system’s profit-driven nature. Administrative costs, advertising expenses, and the siphoning of profits by private insurance companies and pharmaceutical giants inflate healthcare spending in the U.S. while delivering poorer outcomes overall.
The Human Cost of a Profit-Driven System
Jonathan’s story of his friend, who died prematurely due to untreated kidney issues, underscores the deadly consequences of the American healthcare model. This musician, unable to afford routine care, relied on emergency rooms for treatment—a band-aid solution that ultimately failed him. His death reflects a systemic failure, one where the lack of universal healthcare leads to preventable tragedies.
As Jonathan aptly put it, the American system is not just inefficient but “immoral.” It prioritizes profits over people, treating patients as revenue streams rather than human beings. This profit motive extends to pharmaceutical companies, hospital networks, and insurers, benefiting from a status quo exploiting vulnerability and fear.
Taxation and the Social Contract
Critics of universal healthcare often decry the higher taxes associated with systems like Norway’s. However, as Jonathan pointed out, Americans already pay exorbitant “taxes” in insurance premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses. These costs often exceed the taxation rates in countries with universal systems yet deliver far less security and peace of mind.
In Norway, taxation is part of a broader social contract. Citizens agree to contribute to the collective good, knowing that their contributions will support not only their health but also the well-being of their neighbors. This sense of shared responsibility fosters social cohesion and eliminates the fear of medical bankruptcy.
A Call to Action: The Path Forward for the U.S.
Jonathan’s story serves as a call to action for Americans to demand a healthcare system prioritizing people over profits. The U.S. does not lack the resources to implement such a system—it lacks the political will. Powerful lobbies within the insurance and pharmaceutical industries exert outsized influence over policymaking, perpetuating a system that benefits a few at the expense of many.
Americans must advocate for Medicare for All or similar universal healthcare models to create a more equitable system. This would involve restructuring the system to eliminate the inefficiencies and profiteering that currently plague it. It would also require a cultural shift that embraces the idea that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Conclusion: A Vision for a Better Future
Jonathan’s experiences in Norway illuminate the possibilities of a system designed with humanity at its core. His story is a testament to the power of collective investment in health and well-being. As he noted, Americans deserve better. They deserve a system where a medical emergency does not lead to financial ruin, where treatment decisions are made based on need rather than cost, and where no one is left to die because they cannot afford care.
The time for change is now. By learning from countries like Norway, the United States can build a healthcare system that truly serves its people—one that is more efficient and just. As Jonathan wisely concluded, we live in a beautiful world and must take care of each other.
