alt Hacker NewsPer capita stats are computed based on population, not per treatment or per person eligible for treatment. The US spends more per head on giving only a fraction of them subsidised healthcare than other nations manage on universal health, [more years of] education, [more generous] welfare payments etc. Some of that is down to medical professional salary discrepancies, but some of it is down to a terrible system...
>"Per capita stats are computed based on population, not per treatment or per person eligible for treatment. "
Your point is correct, but since the majority of healthcare spending occurs in the last 18 months of life, and the vast majority are on either Medicare or Medicaid during that time of their life (either due to age or ailment-related incapacity), it doesn't make a huge difference.