The problem with healthy life expectancy

the "healthy life expectancy" metric mixes mortality data with self-reported health surveys — two very different kinds of information. the result is a single number that can obscure more than it reveals. for example, people in poorer health may report feeling fine, while wealthier populations might report more ailments simply because they have better access to diagnosis. the blended statistic makes it hard to tell whether a country's number is driven by people dying younger or by people living longer with chronic conditions. some researchers argue the measure is too blunt to guide policy on healthcare spending or retirement ages.