Comparing Health Care

United Kingdom

• funded by taxes, 8.3% GDP
• "socialized medicine" run by government (National Health Service)
• focused on preventative care, general practitioners=gatekeeper
• long waits, few options for care

Japan

• funded by individuals, 8% GDP
• $280/mo., employers foot 1/2 bill
• 30% copay, capped based on income
• "social insurance"
• required have insurance, help from gov. for those can't afford, privatized medicine
• very successful, too little $$ going to medicine

Germany

• funded by ind., 10.7 % GDP
• $750/mo. pegged by income
• $14/3 mo., certain exempt
• "social insurance" (orig. under Bismarck)
• sickness funds
• no gatekeeper, higher copay if private practitioner
• underpaid, top 10% exempt-->treated sooner, for profit insurance

Taiwan

• funded ind., 6.3% GDP
• $650/yr fam. 4, 20% copay
• government run issuer mandatory insurance
• underfunded

Switzerland

• ind. funded, 11.6% GDP
• $750, subsidies available, 10% copay
• universal, insurance for profit beyond basic care
• expensive

Looking at the graphs, Americans pay the most for care, but do not receive the same quality of care as other nations. We have the highest infant mortality rate of the compared nations and the lowest life expectancy.

I would like to live in Switzerland because, despite the high costs, it has a good reputation for quality of care and a high life expectancy. The copay on care is low and the government did not have to fight the people to get universal health care.