Universal Coverage - It's Happening in Mexico

When people say that universal coverage in America is a pipe dream or that the Affordable Care Act is simply too expensive to implement, just look south to Mexico.  That country, despite a much smaller GDP than the U.S. and terrible problems with drug violence, has achieved universal coverage, including the coverage of over 50 million people who were previously uninsured.  Fifty million.

Starting in 1996, the Mexican government decided to make access to care a priority.  They reached this decision because they wanted to improve the quality of services being received by the Mexican people, and because they believed that Mexican citizens were entitled – had a right – to healthcare.  Also, there was an overriding belief that undertaking reform would actually save money over the long run.

What happened?  By 2012, 345 specific treatments were covered under the combined programs of Seguro Popular (basic coverage packages) and FPGC (catastrophic illness/injury packages).  And did I mention that over 50 million people who were previously uninsured now had the ability to access care?

Of course, the Chicken Littles here in the U.S. would immediately talk about unsustainable costs.  But the costs savings that Mexico expected did in fact materialize.  Before health reform, 2.3 times as much public money was spent per capita on the uninsured as on those who had insurance. After the reforms were fully implemented, that discrepancy was down to 1.2.

Like the other country I studied, Germany, the Mexican system is imperfect and they continue to deal with a variety of challenges.  But Mexico has achieved far more than we have been able to in the U.S.  Are we content with that?  Are we not exceptional enough to at least equal Mexico’s accomplishments?