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“Ohio sticks out — for all the wrong reasons. Roughly 1 in 5 Ohioans will die before they turn 65, according to Montez’s analysis using the state’s 2019 death rates. The state, whose legislature has been increasingly dominated by Republicans, has plummeted nationally when it comes to life expectancy rates, moving from middle of the pack to the bottom fifth of states during the last 50 years, The Post found. Ohioans have a similar life expectancy to residents of Slovakia and Ecuador, relatively poor countries.”

  • worldwidewave@lemmy.worldEnglish
    421·
    1 year ago

    In the past six months, Czup has arranged the funerals of a 37-year-old killed by complications from diabetes, a 54-year-old killed by lung disease and a 54-year-old killed by a stroke, among many others who died prematurely.

    “How long until this is me?” the funeral director wondered, noting his stress-filled 18-hour days and unhealthy diet.

    How many of these people didn’t have health care, and didn’t catch their illnesses in the early stages? This country desperately needs universal health care.

    • jeffw@lemmy.worldEnglish
      41·
      1 year ago

      Universal healthcare is really only one piece of the puzzle. We already have doc shortages in most of the country, particularly rural areas. If all of a sudden the patient amounts to up by 10% (more probably, since these people delayed healthcare and probably have health problems), that doesn’t solve the problem. Ensuring access to healthcare is more than just ensuring coverage/affordability.