Thread: Health care around the globe

Health care around the globe

Posted 26m ago
By Andrew Seaman, USA TODAY

A look at how other developed countries provide and pay for health care compared with the U.S. system, based on the most recent information available:

BY THE NUMBERS: How the U.S. health care system stacks up against other countries

United States

The U.S. health care system operates through a combination of public and private insurers. Two of the largest government-run insurance programs are Medicaid and Medicare, which are funded by income taxes and available to low-income citizens and the elderly. Those not in government-run programs must find coverage through the private market, from their employer or go uninsured. Care is largely provided by private doctors at private facilities.

Germany

Germany requires people making less than about $70,000 a year to have health insurance, which is operated by more than 200 competing, non-profit insurance companies. Those making more than $70,000 a year have the option to be under the mandatory health care, or they can buy private insurance or go uninsured. The system is funded through an income tax. Care is provided by private doctors and a mix of private and public hospitals.

Sweden

Sweden provides universal health care coverage. The program is funded through central and local taxes and co-payments on services. The national government regulates the system, but the local governments organize the care facilities. Doctors can be government employees or private practitioners because the local governments can decide what system is best for their community. In most cases, hospitals are owned and operated by the local government.

Canada

Canada provides universal health care; however, many Canadians purchase insurance to supplement the government program. The program is funded through general taxation, and any supplemental insurance is paid out-of-pocket. The majority of doctors are not employed by the government. Hospitals can be either public or private, but their budgets are negotiated with the government.

Italy

Italy offers health care to all residents. Funding for the health care system comes from a mix of income taxes, local taxes and co-payments. Care is delivered through private doctors. Most hospitals are government-run. There are some private and for-profit hospitals.

Spain

Spain provides universal health care coverage; however, a small portion of the population purchases supplemental health insurance. The funding comes from taxes and out-of-pocket payments. The national government decides the direction of the system, while the local governments determine how the care is delivered. Doctors are private practitioners, and the majority of hospital beds are government-owned.

Australia

Australia provides health care to citizens, permanent legal residents and visitors from certain countries. The care is funded by an income tax and rebates to a supplemental insurance program. Care is provided by private doctors. Public hospitals provide free care, while private hospitals tend to cater to people with private insurance.

Netherlands

Everyone living or working in the Netherlands is required to purchase health insurance. Insurers are required to offer a government-mandated standard package and provide coverage to all. The government gives subsidies to companies that take on high-risk clients with chronic illnesses and severe disabilities. Minors, the unemployed, the elderly and people who are not able to pay for insurance are covered through a government fund, which is paid for through income taxes. Care is provided through private doctors and care facilities.

United Kingdom

The U.K. offers health care to all people "ordinarily resident" in the country. Most services are free or available with a small co-payment. The main source of funding is general taxation. Doctors and hospitals are generally employed and operated by the government; however, there are private practitioners who may or may not be reimbursed by the government.

France

France provides health care for all living in the country — legally and illegally. The main source of funding is payroll and income taxes; however, the government implements some cost-sharing techniques, including co-payments and extra billing. Care is provided by private doctors, even though the majority of hospitals are owned by the government.

Sources: McKinsey; The Commonwealth Fund; Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; Central Intelligence Agency; The Harris Poll; Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs

BY THE NUMBERS: How the U.S. health care system stacks up against other countries on some key financial and medical indicators

USA Germany Sweden Canada Italy Spain Australia Netherlands United Kingdom France
percentage of health expenses as a share of Gross Domestic Product, 2007 16% 10.4% 9.1% 10.1% 8.7% 8.5% 8.7%³ 9.8%¹ 8.4% 11%

percentage of health expenses paid with public funds, 2007 45.4% 6.9% 81.7% 70% 76.5% 71.8% 67.7% 62.5%** 81.7% 79%

Life expectancy at birth, 2009{+1} (in years) 78.1 79.3 80.9 81.2 80.2 80.1 81.6 79.4 79 81

Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births, 2009{+1} 6.3 4 2.8 5 5.5 4.2 4.8 4.7 4.9 3.3

percentage of people who want to completely change the health care system, 2008 33% 17% NA 12%² 20% 12% 18%² 9%² 15% 15%

Inpatient surgical procedures per 1,000 population, 2004 90 79 62 45 53 51 51 40 63 NA

Hospital bed occupancy, 2005 67% 76% NA 90% 76% 71.6% 71% 64% 84% 75%


1—estimate; 2—2007; 3—2006;

**—2002 Sources: McKinsey; The Commonwealth Fund; Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; Central Intelligence Agency; The Harris Poll; Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industrie ... ries_N.htm

I broke my right leg Saturday in a 4 wheeler accident. I can't afford insurance. I really wish I was a Canadian on Saturday, that way I wouldn't have to call my electric company and ask for an extension just because my hospital bill was $600. Thanks America!! I guess I need to become an illegal so I could have done the x-rays and cast for free.

Give me a break!!!!!!!! I went to the emergency room and my bill was $8,000. I made arrangements with the hopsital to pay my bill on what I can afford to pay. I didn't have to declare bankrupty or fight to keep my untilities on. They can't go after you for medical bills. Because I didn't have insusrance the hospital took $2000 off my bill to make it easier.
jshhmr if you don't like the way things are done here move to Mexico or Canada or any other socialistic country. Our healthcare is not perfect, but it sure beats what is out there.

Originally Posted by agrneydgrl

Give me a break!!!!!!!! I went to the emergency room and my bill was $8,000. I made arrangements with the hopsital to pay my bill on what I can afford to pay. I didn't have to declare bankrupty or fight to keep my untilities on. They can't go after you for medical bills. Because I didn't have insusrance the hospital took $2000 off my bill to make it easier.
jshhmr if you don't like the way things are done here move to Mexico or Canada or any other socialistic country. Our healthcare is not perfect, but it sure beats what is out there.

Exactly how does our health care beat others? If I were Canadian, I wouldn't even have to call my electric company to tell them that I will be delayed in paying them. What country do you live in? It must be nice! Our healthcare certainly isn't perfect, and Saturday was PROOF that we need to change things. I'm tired of being screwed because people that claim to be chistians arent christians at all! So much for what would Jesus do! He CERTAINLY didn't mean for people to be screwed out of health care based upon politics!

I live in the good old USA. I didn't have to call my utility companies. Why do Canadians that have money come here for their care? I know they do because I know alot of them because i use to live on the USA- Canadian border. NOTHING is free. Did you not hear the CBO say that people are going to lose benefits with this so called health care? Do you really want the government, who can't even run a cash for clunkers program right take care of your health. Since when did any of their plans not cost much more than they expected. Do you really think that Canadas health care system costs nothing? It will cost at least 20% of your income. Wake up. I do not want the government handeling my health insuance. They need to open up the markets so you can buy from state to state. They need to restrict what you can get from a malpratice suit and they need to get rid of pre-exsisting condition clauses in insurance. Insurance should be for emergencies and catastrophic events not every day problems. It should be like car insurance. You pay for your maintainance and the insurance is there for emergencies. That all can be fixed without the whole system being turned upside down. It went to covering the uninsured to taking over the whole system. In England they have what they call ambulance stacking. The waiting lines in the er rooms were so long that they passed a law saying that you could not spend more than 4 hours waiting so now the ambulance pulls into the hospital parking lot and park there until the wait time in the er is mo more than 4 hours. You might be spending 3 hours in the ambunce go in and spend another 4 hours in the waiting room. That means that there are no ambulances if and when you need one. What are you going to do when the government mandates that you have insurance. You will have to buy it anyway. Who says it is going to be cheaper than what you could get now? If you don't buy it it wil cost you between $3800 and $1900 in penalties. You are going to HAVE to buy a policy that you aren't paying for now. You are not going to just get healthcare, you are going to have to pay for it so if you don't have it now you will HAVE to pay for a policy then.

[quote="jshhmr"]


I broke my right leg Saturday in a 4 wheeler accident. I can't afford insurance.


May I ask how it is that you can afford a 4-wheeler but don't have health insurance?

Or, how it is that you attend various star gazing events, take trips to Vegas, etc. but don't have health insurance?

All of that is great....nothing wrong with going places, doing things...... but whatever happened to taking care of your main responsibilities first? I would think that spending money for a health insurance policy would be a priority for you, especially since you do have a child to worry about.......and yet you don't

Instead you seem to be holding out for some "free" health insurance as if you feel that this is some sort of right that you have.

Not to sound argumentative here, but do you mind telling me why any of us should be expected to subsidize health insurance for you and yours while you spend your money on hobbies, trips, etc?

I'd also like to point out that there is nothing stopping you from applying for health insurance through your state. They reformed that years ago in order to serve the segment of the population which was slipping through the cracks.......not impoverished, but not earning enough to afford health insurance.

It's open to EVERYONE who qualifies and the care and services provided are on par with what you would receive if you had *private insurance*. In fact, in many cases, more is covered than it is with private insurance.

You pay into those programs through your tax dollars.....I'd suggest you use them.