Life expectancy is a terrible measure for quality of health care. The best health care in the world won't change how much overeating and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to heart disease (the #1 cause of death in the US), stroke (#5), and diabetes (#7).
Life expectancy can vary dramatically by county, even when there are no differences at all in health care policy. [1]
That's not to say we aren't paying too much and getting too little. We are. It's just life expectancy isn't the way to measure it.
Far and away, lifestyle is the biggest contributor. The very source I linked above claims it accounts for 74% of differences, and "access to health care accounted for much of the rest of the difference, the team found."
I'm open to contrary claims, but if you're making one at all it's a pretty loose one.
You seem to have missed my point, and keep focusing on overly narrow health intervention. Going back to my previous comment, education (through direct communication and through schools) is a channel through which lifestyle and hence health outcomes can be improved. Similarly, the UK we have a forthcoming sugar tax, as do many other countries. Cycle infrastructure. etc.
Life expectancy can vary dramatically by county, even when there are no differences at all in health care policy. [1]
That's not to say we aren't paying too much and getting too little. We are. It's just life expectancy isn't the way to measure it.
[1] http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/who-lives-longer-s...