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Health Care Systems: the U.S. vs. Canada

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The United States health care system is quite unique when compared to Canada’s health care system and those of other countries. Canada provides universal coverage, is privately run and is publicly funded through taxes. The U.S. is the only industrialized country that does not offer universal health coverage. The U.S. is said to be part of the developed world in terms of technology, well trained health professionals and job opportunities although when it comes to health outcomes it doesn’t do so well. Available studies suggest that the health outcomes in Canada were superior to those compared the U.S. The U.S. faces multiple barriers that have made their health care system inconsistent and so costly. In the past the system focused on …show more content…

The U.S. infant mortality rate is 5.7 per 1000 births and 1.5 in Canada although has declined over the past several decades (O'Neill & O'Neill, 2007). Low-birth weight babies have a better chance at survival in the U.S. than in Canada due to advances in medical technology and expenditures on intensive care units (O'Neill & O'Neill, 2007). The reason there are more infant mortality rates in the U.S. is because there are more infants born weighing very little than compared to Canada. The effectiveness of a health system varies upon populations and the differences in cultural, socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Canadians live two to three years longer than Americans, but because they live healthier. In the U.S. there is a relatively high incidence of obesity and this leads to poor health outcomes. There is greater success of survival rate in the U.S. due to the availability of innovative technology and better screenings and treatments (O'Neill & O'Neill, 2007). When care is free there are longer waiting times for medical services and needs are not being met on time. Over the years Canada has seen an issue with controlling health expenditures because of the services that are provided and are free of charge due to their universal plan. In the U.S costs are cited as a source of unmet needs (O'Neill & O'Neill, 2007). In the U.S. there lower wait times to see a specialists and get surgery. In the U.S. unmet needs were because of costs

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