Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
Comment
Sally Pipes

Commentary: What’s at fault for lower life expectancy? Health care has less influence than individual choices.

Progressives like to point out that Americans pay more for health care yet have poorer outcomes than people in countries of similar wealth.

New life expectancy data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seems to indicate that things are getting only worse. Between 2020 and 2021, American life expectancy decreased 0.9 years. That follows a drop of 1.8 years in 2020.

But there are many factors that influence our longevity more than the health care system does. In fact, much of the decline in life expectancy has little to do with our health care system.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.