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Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RMF who wrote (72)	1/12/2005 11:44:59 AM
From: Solon	Respond to of 42652

If EVERYBODY smoked the country would save TRILLIONS on health care." You are correct in terms of the Canadian experience. But American taxation rates on liquor and taxes are much lower so the health costs associated with smoking tend to offset the shorter life span. But in Canada, it is true that heavy smokers pay far more than their "share" of health care costs.

To: RMF who wrote (72)	1/14/2005 10:54:01 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42652

"Smoking raises health care costs?? Check an actuarial table sometime and I belive you'll see that smokers die MUCH earlier than non-smokers." Yeah, they do, but at a high cost. In fact, my profession probably only exists because of smokers. Try $600/ day just for breathing treatments, and maybe $2500 for a ventilator. ---------------------------------------------------- CONCLUSIONSThe medical costs of smoking in the United States equal, and may well exceed, the commonly referenced figure of 6-8% tc.bmjjournals.com