Rush Limbaugh's Personal Health Care Crisis

Rush has been off the air for the last few weeks, and apparently his replacement is even worse, so I have been trying to ignore him.  In the mean time, Rush was admitted to a hospital recently with chest pains.  Rush was on vacation in Hawaii with his 33 year old girlfriend Kathryn Rogers.

Rush panicked, thinking that he was having a heart attack, and called his girlfriend.  Rogers in turn called 911 on his behalf.  I guess it's a good thing that Rush wasn't actually having a heart attack, because seconds count.  Protip: if you think you're having a heart attack, phone 911 directly.  Don't call your girlfriend.

While at the hospital, Rush received the best of care - perhaps unsurprising, considering both his celebrity status and his health insurance.  Which, with a salary of over $40 million per year, I'm sure he can afford pretty good insurance!  Rush predictably proclaimed America's health care system "the best health care the world has to offer."

The problem is that America does not, in fact, have the best health care in the world.  In fact, we have the 37th best health care system in the world.  The "best" rating is reserved for countries which allow their citizens to access their health care, along with metrics such as life expectancy, infant mortality, and preventable deaths.  

France ranked #1 according to the World Health Organization, followed by Italy and San Marino.  The United States ranked behind the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Columbia, Saudi Arabia, and Costa Rica.  However, the WHO did rank us just above Cuba (#39) which should make Rush's Michael Moore-hating heart glow a little bit.

MSNBC's Chris Matthews had a quick and efficient take-down for Rush.  "The issue is cost.  Affordability.  That's what the health care bill is about.  Getting for millions of people who don't have it, something like the health care that Rush gets."

Rush Limbaugh's theory is that if you can't afford it, you shouldn't get it.  He puts basic health care in the same category as Tag Heuer watches and Cadillac Escalades.  Want it?  Then get a good job and buy it.  Don't have the money?  Then you're SOL.  In Rush World, asking the government to make health care affordable is like giving away Escalades to anyone who wants them. 

It's ridiculous, if you ask him, and a dangerous trend towards socialism.  That slippery slope again!  Let's say we take steps to bring our infant mortality rate in line with developed nations - next thing you know, those kids will grow up and expect to be handed money just because they want it!

We can't have that.

In fact, our country is 33rd in the world for infant mortality rates according to the United Nations, and 46th according to the CIA world fact book.  We rank below countries such as the Czech Republic, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and every other developed nation.   Our infant mortality rates alone are a worldwide disgrace.  

No huge surprise that our "celebrities experiencing chest pains" mortality rates are looking good, though.