We don't know what the outcome would have been even if he had been operated on in a timely manner. Spinal surgery has risks. But yes, there should be a system in place where if a doc says the surgery is urgent, and there's no ability to perform it here, it gets approved to be done in the US. Using US overcapacity is actually an efficient way for us to spend our healthcare dollars. In fact a system like that is in place AFAIK, it just wasn't used in this case.
But the problem with our healthcare system as far as funding goes is that we have rightwing politicians who want to starve the system so that eventually people will demand a private option.
Here's how the French system works:
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The entire population must pay compulsory health insurance. The insurers are non-profit agencies that annually participate in negotiations with the state regarding the overall funding of health care in France. There are three main funds, the largest of which covers 84% of the population and the other two a further 12%. A premium is deducted from all employees' pay automatically. The 2001 Social Security Funding Act, set the rates for health insurance covering the statutory health care plan at 5.25% on earned income, capital and winnings from gambling and at 3.95% on benefits (pensions and allowances).[6]
After paying the doctor's or dentist's fee, a proportion is reimbursed. This is around 75 to 80%, but can be as much as 85%.[citation needed] The balance is effectively a co-payment paid by the patient but it can also be recovered if the patient pays a regular premium to a voluntary health insurance scheme. Nationally, about half of such copayments are paid from VHI insurance and half out of pocket.
But look out new immigrants to France:
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For many of those planning to move to France in the future, or who arrived in the country from 23 November, 2007, full private health insurance is now a must - for more information see Healthcare changes in France - what you need to know.
Private health insurance is quite different from the current complementary insurance 'top up' policies because the underwriter assumes all the risk (up to policy limits) less any excesses payable by the insured. Here's more...
That's full on, US style private care.
And a system like that is fine. But with the nutbars down south, and our right wingers like Harper envious of them and dismissive of our "second rate socialist state" I do make the slippery slope argument. Randian idiocy doesn't stop at the border. Since the "private" insurers in France are non-profit anyway, why not just have one payer, the govt. It's more efficient. We can find many efficiencies in the system however. One is nurse practitioners becoming the primary "physician" for most people, with more complex ailments passed on to actual doctors. I can't think of anything I've ever gone to the doctor for that a np could not handle. Mostly anti-biotic prescriptions. The check-ups I got were very routine with mostly some lab tests. That can all be handled by an np who is on salary with much lower costs than doctors.
The other place we waste money on is being penny wise and pound foolish. We have seniors and others waiting in hospitals because there are no residential facilities available for them. Hospital beds are much more expensive than residential care beds. Same with the govt cutting back on support services for seniors in their homes - much cheaper than actually moving a senior to a care home. Stupid.
And finally, the greatest costs are in the first and last years of life. We should restrict spending on premies, not provide all that expensive care for "babies" (foetuses really) that only have a 50/50 chance of survival and if they do survive likely have reduced quality of life. We're legally allowing these babies to be aborted if a doctor agrees to do it, yet spend a fortune trying to save them if they are born at this age with poor chance of survival. We need to be tougher there. Same with old folks who are kept alive long past their best by date. Little quality of life, but because the technology exists to keep them bed bound but alive we use it. Stupid. Help them to have an easy passing, but don't force them to remain half alive and suffering for long periods with no hope of recovery. This is where a lot of our medical dollars are wasted.
CKA Uber 
CKA Uber 
