Rush Limbaugh Threatens to Leave the USA Over Health Care Reform

A couple of days ago, Limbaugh, self-proclaimed leader of the far right, told an on-air caller he will leave the country if health reform passes. Read the article

Limbaugh said he would go to Costa Rica. The only problem with that plan? Costa Rica has universal health care.

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According to International Living:

“Costa Rica has universal health care, one of the best health systems in Latin America.

“Statistics from the World Health Organization frequently place Costa Rica in the top country rankings in the world for long life expectancy, often even ahead of Great Britain and the United States, even though the per-capita income of Costa Ricans is about one-tenth that of the U.S. and the U.K.”

Never known for his consistency, Limbaugh is now denying he would move there. Instead, according to the Huffington Post:

“I said, ‘Look, there are insurance companies who don’t want to be put out of business.’ … They are establishing health care clinics with quality doctors in places like Costa Rica. They’re going to continue to sell policies to people who have the ability to fly down there and get treatment. If I have to get thrown into this massive government health care insurance business and end up going to the driver’s license office every day when I need to go to the doctor, yeah, I’ll go to Costa Rica for treatment, not move there.”

I guess Limbaugh has totally missed the point that the only so-called reform bills in play right now would provide a massive giveaway to the insurance companies and make the Wall Street bailout look like a kid’s birthday party by comparison.

In any case, it made me wonder where Limbaugh might go if he really did decide to leave.

Socialist Europe? Not a chance. Let’s take a look at what Rush might find in English-speaking countries outside the US, since I’m sure the guy who bleeds red-white-and-blue wouldn’t want to live among those who wouldn’t understand his harangues.

1. Canada. With their single-payer, government sponsored health care, that would be a “no”.
2. Great Britain. National Health Service. No go.
3. South Africa has a combination system, which includes both public and private plans.
   

   “South Africa’s health system consists of a large public sector and a smaller but fast-growing private sector. Health care varies from the most basic primary health care, offered free by the state, to highly specialised hi-tech health services available in the private sector for those who can afford it.”

4. Australia. According to a government website:
   

   “The Australian Government funds universal medical services and pharmaceuticals and gives financial assistance to public hospitals, residential aged care facilities and home and community care for the aged. It is also the major source of funds for health research and provides support for training health professionals and financial assistance to tertiary students.

   State and territory governments provide a variety of direct health services, including most acute and psychiatric hospital services. State and territory governments also provide community and public health services, including school health, dental health, maternal and child health, occupational health, disease control activities and a variety of health inspection functions.”

5. New Zealand’s medical care is also public.
   

   “New Zealand’s healthcare system is funded mainly through general taxation. Treatments are usually free or subsidised. Medical treatment is generally very good. Private healthcare is also available.”

6. India might be a possibility. Their system is mostly private, and medical tourism is big business there. On the other hand, to live there Limbaugh would have to put up with an enormous non-white population.
7. African countries where English is the official language – Kenya, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe to name just a few. No way would our boy Rush live amongst Africans. Unless he could be king, maybe.
8. Island Caribbean nations. There are a few Caribbean islands where English is spoken. But in Saint Lucia, for example, the public expenditure for health care is twice the private expenditure. In Jamaica, health care is free to all citizens and legal residents. Oops. Barbados has government-run clinics, in addition to the public hospital.

Face it, Rush, the civilized world provides health care for its citizens. You want to help your buddies in the insurance business? Support the current bills and they’ll love you forever. This Congress doesn’t have the spine to provide health care.

For the rest of us? There are lots of great places in the world to live where health care is available and affordable. And where we don’t have to put up with Limbaugh’s shenanigans.

As someone who plans to move to another country so I can afford health care, Limbaugh’s “support the poor insurance companies” position nauseates me. How about you? Let us know what you think by clicking the comment button below.