This image from the National Geographic blog speaks volumes. Whatever your opinion of the politics of the healthcare reform, or whether or not you agree with the data presented here, you cannot deny the power of communication of a well-designed info-graphic.

(click for larger image)

The United States spends more on medical care per person than any country, yet life expectancy is shorter than in most other developed nations and many developing ones. Lack of health insurance is a factor in life span and contributes to an estimated 45,000 deaths a year. Why the high cost? The U.S. has a fee-for-service system—paying medical providers piecemeal for appointments, surgery, and the like. That can lead to unneeded treatment that doesn’t reliably improve a patient’s health. Says Gerard Anderson, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies health insurance worldwide, “More care does not necessarily mean better care.” —Michelle Andrews

HT @BoraZ via Twitter