The United States And Australia

The health care system varies from country to country although a factor they all have in common is that great measures of research are taken in order to find results and achieve a good health care system for the economy. Between Australia and japan, there are great initiatives taken to help in association to this, including economic, social and political circumstances, all influencing the way in which the countries health care system is shaped and run.

The Australian health care system is one of the most complex yet comprehensive health systems in the world. With a life expectancy 2 years greater than the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) average and over 85 % of people reporting their health to be good or very good, Australia fares very well in relation to health and well-being status of its population in comparison to most other OECD countries (OECD Better Life Index n.d.).

New Zealand health care is known to have a universal coverage meaning almost every citizen has the same access to the service. Controlled by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), a crown entity that is solely responsible for the service and almost of off the health care financing. Public dollars from taxpayers in NZ accounts for 78 percent of the total funding of health care. Individual sources of funding come the second and private insures come the last. The United States, in contrast, poses a starkly different fixture (see Table 1). Public funding covers 44 percent of the National Health Service, while private insurance and out of pocket resources account for 41 percent and 15 percent respectively. While in the US that health care funding comes from the

Canada’s healthcare system is more accessible than the U.S, because Canada’s healthcare system covers all Canadian citizens as opposed to the U.S. healthcare system which depends on a person’s insurance. The U.S healthcare system is an insurance based system. In 2012, the U.S spent 2.8 trillion on healthcare (). Despite such spending on health care, many U.S. residents had no health insurance and several aggregate measures of health quality and outcomes recorded in the USA were poorer than the corresponding data from other high-income countries. In the U.S. if a citizen does not have insurance they will have to pay out of pocket for normal health care services. These out of pocket costs are usually extremely high. To put it in perspective, 18% of U.S citizens do not have health insurance (Costello,

The healthcare system in Australia is complex involving many funders and healthcare providers. In 2011 to 2012 the health expenditure in Australia was estimated to have been $140.2 billion, which made up 9.5 percent of gross domestic product in that year (AIHW, 2013). Responsibilities are split between different levels of government, and between the government and non-government sectors. With non-government sources funding for about 30 percent of the total health expenditure each year (AIHW, 2013). Australians make their contribution to their healthcare system through taxes, including the Medicare levy, and through private financing such as private health insurance. Private health insurance in Australia is a voluntary facility for private funding of hospital care and ancillaries. Insurance funds may cover the costs of treatment for private patients in private or public hospitals and can include some services that Medicare does not cover. The Australian governments fund for almost 70 percent of the health expenditure each year (AIHW, 2013). The federal government contributes to approximately two-thirds, while State, Territory and local governments together contribute for the other one-third (AIWH, 2013). As a generalization the Australian government is primarily responsible for the funding of healthcare, through health insurance arrangements and direct payments to the state and territories, while state and territories are primarily responsible

The Australian Medicare system is essentially based around private practice and fee-for-service. In England, they have the National Health Service, which is a publicly funded healthcare system, this is the oldest and biggest

The Australian Health Care System is regarded world class for its effectiveness and efficiency. It consists of the mix system of health providers in both the private and public sector. The funding mechanism is highly advantageous to its entire citizen, which consists of the 30% Rebate, Pharmaceutical Benefit and Medicare. In particular, Medicare has been ensuring all Australian nationals with access to free and low cost medical, optometric, hospital care with special option to private health services in special circumstances.

The welfare state model of healthcare is a system where the government provides healthcare for all Australian citizens through Medicare (Department of Health, 2014). Medicare is given by the Australian government to all Australian citizens and permanent residents, therefore the government pays in full, or subsidises, public hospital services, referred consultations with allied health professionals, and non- medical treatments for these individuals (Krassnitzer & Willis, 2016, p27). Medicare is regulated through eligibility criteria including that the health professional in private practice must be registered,

In the last two decades, there have been countless debates on the need to reform the United States of American health care system. The reform is to enable a more comprehensive system that will address pressing issues such as the growing number of uninsured American. The USA is one of the leading countries when in to healthcare and its systems. It is also the country with the most spending when it comes to healthcare. According to an article published in the commonwealth fund, the United States health care system is found to be the most expensive in the world, but it also shows the U.S. underperforms relative to other countries on most dimensions of performance (Davis, Stremikis, Squires, & Schoen, 2014).

There had been a growing outcry from the public and leaders for something to be done to reduce the increasingly growing number of Japanese immigrants in the West Coast. Subsequent regulations placed on the Japanese in the United States made them aggravated. There was serious trouble brewing between the United States and Japan until the Japanese carried out attacks on Pearl Harbour in December 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor there was increased spread of propaganda from the press and local leaders against the people with Japanese roots. There were numerous calls to the Congress and President Roosevelt for removal of the Japanese from the Pacific Coast. On the 19th day of February 1942, President Roosevelt issued the Executive Order Number 9066 (Wheeler, Becker and Glover 244). The Executive Order authorized the evacuation of the Issei and Missei. About 120000 individuals of Japanese ancestry, both citizens and non-citizens were evacuated from the West Coast in what Lt. General John DeWitt said was compelled by “military necessity” (Wheeler, Becker and Glover 244). The most convincing and reliable evidence reveals that the removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor did not meet the “clear and present danger” test. I do not agree with the Supreme Court’s decision.

The four components of the United States health care system dramatically vary from the components of the health care system in Australia. The health care system of Australia is classified as a national health care system. Unlike the United States, Australia’s health care system is referred to as a single-payer system or a system that is governed by a single central agency; the Australian government. The government finances health care through the means of general taxes, even though health care is delivered by private providers. The benefit of a central agency governing the health care system is that it eliminates the complexity by eliminating components that exists in the multi-payer system of the United States health care system. Although the citizens of the United States are free to choose the method of obtaining health care, countless individuals are left without any means of health care.

The difference the United States has from other countries comes from societal and social normative. The United States foundation was built upon individualistic ideals. Given these points, The United States society upholds the American Bill or rights; it is organized around the Declaration of Independence, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Barr 36). Alternatively, Canadian foundational principles were built upon collectivist concepts. The Canadian government preserves the principle of parliamentary supremacy; it is organized around “peace, order, and good government” (Barr 36). So, it is logical that after the Revolution during the cultural migration those in favor of British rule moved to the north. Conversely, those supporting the south supported newly independent colonies.

Australia’s Medicare scheme was created in 1984 with the intention of improving access to healthcare for all Australians by providing all in need of treatment with access to adequate healthcare at little or no cost, regardless of age or income. Medicare was introduced by the Federal Government and is Australia’s publicly funded universal health insurance scheme. (Medicare Australia, 2014) Medicare is managed by the Department of Human Services and allows public patients free medical care at public hospitals and free or subsidized care from doctors, specialists and other health professionals, if they’re partaking, such as optometrists. Those who are eligible for Medicare hold an Australian or New Zealand citizenship, have a permanent visa or have applied for a permanent visa and meet certain requirements. The Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments fund Australia’s public hospitals, which aid greatly in providing accessible care. (Medicare Australia, 2014) Medicare additionally provides the Australian community with many strategies that attempt to address the needs of certain groups such as the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which provides financial aid for primary dental care for children aged 2-17 who meet the necessary requirements. (Human Services, 2014) Medicare also implemented the Medicare Safety Net, which gives eligible families and individuals financial help for out

Australia’s free universal health care system (Medicare) is one of the best in the world; however, it is also one of the most expensive (The Commonwealth Fund, 2012). The Abbott government is due to release the Australian federal budget in May, and with an expect deficit of $120 billion (Australian Government Productivity Commission, 2014), Prime Minster Abbott has warned of serious policy changes. While the federal government has been coy about the Commission of Audits report, and when they will release its findings, rumour has been rampart in the media about one suggestion, a proposed $5 - 6 co-payment when visiting a General Practitioner (GP). They have inferred this is the death of Medicare. There have been discussions all over the

The United States has various relationships with the world, some more complicated than others. One thing this nation has that is better than most countries is the fact that we are a very culturally diverse society, which can be beneficial. In relation to others, the U.S. is different from other nations by our diverse cultures, religions and just like many others, we have issues we come face to every day. Americans deal with diversity as they work closely with other cultures by putting their differences aside to achieve something. We have a society that is based more along a judeo christian mentality and structure versus more of other predominent religious beliefs.