Life expectancy in the US may have peaked: [link]
Life expectancy in the United States rose to an all-time high, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today. But that's only half the story.
The country is behind about 30 others on this measure.
Though the United States has by far the highest level of health care spending per capita in the world, we have one of the lowest life expectancies among developed nations — lower than Italy, Spain and Cuba and just a smidgeon ahead of Chile, Costa Rica and Slovenia, according to the United Nations. China does almost as well as we do. Japan tops the list at 83 years.
And in an era where advances in medicine and better understanding of health issues should boost life expectancy significantly, the gains announced today were modest.
U.S. life expectancy reached nearly 78 years (77.9) in 2007, the latest year for which data from death certificates has been compiled. That's up from 77.7 in 2006. Over the past decade, life expectancy has increased 1.4 years.
In fact, U.S. life expectancy gains may be pretty much over, as some groups — particularly people in rural locations — are already stagnating or slipping, explains LiveScience columnist Christopher Wanjek. Meantime, soaring rates of obesity and diabetes among children and adults, owing mostly to lousy diets and lack of exercise, portend depressing mortality rates to come.
I have to say, we are on Federal Health Insurance, since my husband is a federal employee, and it is not all that. The coverage levels are about the same as I've experienced in other jobs (private and public universities; less good than when mr. flea worked for a private software company). The premiums are comparable to what I've seen at other jobs, maybe a little cheaper. You basically pick a private company to administer it, and what's available depends on where you live (we have Aetna, and they're just okay; I think we had a choice of 5 plans and 3 administrators). Compared to no health insurance at all, of course, it's great, but it doesn't seem to be any special gold-plated plan. I paid more in premiums when I worked at Duke, but I also had better choices (though part of that is living in a smaller city now, without a world-reknowned medical center).
argh. I am v. annoyed with our new board president. He is very enthusiastic, unfortunately a little too much. He has been talking with the management company, setting up appointments with contractors and working with our onsite maintenance guy without talking to the other board members (there are only two of us, so it's not like it's a big deal to involve us), all on our behalf, but we hasn't discussed it with us.
Yesterday, he happened to mention that he had set an appointment with the electrician for the this morning. Today, he went into the board office (getting the keys from somewhere) and set up everything, and just sent us an email saying "hey, I set up the office!" He's mentioned in several emails "when I was talking to [the management company] they said . . .", and we have no idea what else is going on.
I know that I'm a control freak, but it seems to me that he needs to slow his roll and we all need to be involved. Is it just me? Be honest :)
Vortex, the board of what?
flea, from what I've heard, Congress members get a choice of about ten different plans with all the bells and whistles on them, so they do get a platinum plan that other federal workers don't.
I'll look up the link to the MSNBC story when I get home (leaving work now--the one good thing about having to come in at 6:45 today and tomorrow means I'll be home before 4:00!) and post it here.
I'd assume that coverage for MoC might have to take into account that they are likely to be in two places and that their coverage would have to figure for that.
I locked myself out of the house while hanging laundry. Today is slaying me!
I am thinking about switching Grace's PCP because she has never seen her PCP in the office (the PCP was a neonatal doc at the NICU, though). If I switch to UCLA Medical Group, it would at least make her referrals to the same docs she's seeing now, since her current doctor (who is NOT available as a PCP since he's critical care specialist) is part of the same medical group. Is that logical at all?
Vortex, the board of what?
oh, sorry. The condo board. There are only three of us on the board, and we're all officers.
I'd assume that coverage for MoC might have to take into account that they are likely to be in two places and that their coverage would have to figure for that.
Yeah - fun part of insurance. I have to take a different plan that costs a ton more just to be able to insure my daughter who lives in another state. Has she ever been to the doc in California - no, but if I don't have that option for her.... Blech.
