RFK Jr. slams the "medical cartel" for profiting from the declining health of Americans

By lauraharris // 2024-02-19

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Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) has criticized Big Pharma and other public and private health establishments for profiting from the declining health of Americans. In two separate interviews, RFK Jr. pointed fingers at "the medical cartel" – a coalition of Big Pharma, government regulatory agencies, hospitals and insurance agencies. He accused them of working together to kill Americans while profiting from the deteriorating health conditions of the public. "The sicker we get, the richer they get," he said. According to RFK Jr., "the medical cartel" is contributing to a sharp increase in chronic diseases. He believes that even the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has shifted its focus from preventing and treating illnesses to monetizing scientific advancements for the pharmaceutical industry. RFK Jr. supports his arguments with startling statistics and highlights the staggering increase in chronic diseases, particularly among the younger population. He compared the prevalence of chronic diseases when his uncle, John F. Kennedy, was president to the current situation. He noted that, to date, the country has been spending 20 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare, focusing on chronic diseases. Meanwhile, when his uncle was the president, there was only a four percent allocation of the GDP to healthcare. The trajectory of chronic diseases in the U.S. began increasing in 1989, leading to the "mass poisoning" of the current generation of kids. "We saw this explosion of neurodevelopmental disorders. So ADD, ADHD, speech delay, language delay, tics, sleep disorders, Tourette syndrome, narcolepsy, ASD/autism – all these diseases that, prior to 1989, we never heard of them. We didn't know anybody that had them," RFK Jr. stated. The independent candidate stressed the surge in autism rates, providing a stark comparison between generations. "One in 10,000 [people] in my generation has autism," he explained, describing severe cases characterized by non-verbal communication, non-toilet-trained behavior, head banging, stimming, toe-walking, hand-flapping and sensory sensitivities. "One in 34 in my kids' generation is diagnosed with autism, with the rate rising to one in 22 boys." (Related: Autism rates in the US on the rise; California seeing record numbers.) RFK Jr. also mentioned the sudden rise in autoimmune diseases, including juvenile diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and lupus. Allergies to foods such as peanuts and childhood asthma have also proliferated. He argued that nowadays, it is increasingly rare to find a young person without some form of chronic disease.

Chronic diseases also strain the economy

These chronic diseases are not only causing widespread health issues but also straining the economy. "Chronic disease is bankrupting our country and rising exponentially, and nobody is mentioning it," RFK Jr. said. He stressed the exponential rise in healthcare spending, with 93 percent of Medicare claims being for chronic diseases, surpassing the country's defense expenditure. A 2002 report prepared by Partnership for Solutions for Johns Hopkins University backed the claims of RFK Jr. According to the report, chronic diseases are the primary contributors to the staggering $4.1 trillion in annual healthcare costs in the United States. The study highlights that individuals with chronic conditions, especially those with multiple ailments, are the most significant consumers of healthcare services, spanning home healthcare, hospitalizations, office visits and prescription drugs. People with multiple chronic conditions represent two-thirds of all prescriptions filled, making them substantial users of healthcare services. As the number of chronic conditions increases for an individual, so does the need for and utilization of healthcare resources. Consequently, the lion's share of healthcare expenditures in the country is directed toward those grappling with chronic conditions. Back in 2001, care for individuals with chronic conditions accounted for a staggering 83 percent of healthcare spending. With society aging and the prevalence of chronic conditions on the rise, this percentage is anticipated to escalate in the coming years. One alarming trend highlighted in the report is that the majority of people with chronic conditions fall within the working-age bracket and are privately insured. Out of the 78 million individuals with chronic conditions, 74 percent have private insurance coverage, making their care a substantial component of private insurance spending. Furthermore, nearly all Medicare dollars and 83 percent of Medicaid resources are allocated to individuals dealing with chronic conditions. The report also underscored the sharp escalation in healthcare expenditures and usage when individuals have multiple chronic conditions. Generally, healthcare spending for a person with one chronic condition is two and a half times higher than for someone without any chronic condition. Spending reaches almost 15 times for individuals coping with five or more chronic conditions. Similar to RFK Jr.'s claims, the report found that a staggering 96 percent of Medicare spending is committed to people with multiple chronic conditions. Watch this video that talks about why half of Americans have of chronic conditions. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

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Chronic diseases also strain the economy

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