National Healthcare Systems: The United States and France
Community Health
Kelvin Joseph
October 17, 2012
Abstract
Healthcare is the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses, diseases, and injuries. It a very important part of everyone 's lives, no matter where they live. Every country has their own type of healthcare that helps take care of the cost of medical attention. There are four models of healthcare systems that every country generally follows. Much government makes changes to the models in order to better accommodate their needs. There are many components and plans in healthcare systems that allow the systems to operate the way they do. The United States and France are two examples of countries with very different
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When it comes to Veterans the United States follows the Beveridge model. For citizens over the age of 65, the National Health Insurance model is used. The working class Americans ' health insurance is modeled after the Bismark model. For Americans who don 't have health insurance, the United States follows the Out of Pocket model. France, on the other hand follows only the Bismark model. America 's working class and all of France have the same healthcare model. In the United States, there is a third party, aside from the patient who is the buyer, and the hospital who is the seller. The insurance company or government agency is considered the third party. The money flows through the third party. The reasons for having a third party is for patients to be prepared against large unseen costs of treatment, and so governments can assure their citizens access to health care. Healthcare is in part, market based, and is paid for privately by employers or an individual. Another way healthcare in the US is financed is by the government. For example, the US government funds supports Medicare, insurance for the elderly and disabled, and Medicaid, which covers low income Americans. In France everyone has health care. Health care in France is also financed by both private and government insurance, and people generally get insurance through their employer. The French national insurance program is mostly funded by payroll and income taxes (Shapiro 'Health care '). The funds are
The United States’ health care system in comparison to the Germany health system seems to be fairly similar in many ways; however there are some major differences. One seems to be divided into public and private sectors and funded mostly by the public; Germany's, is considered better at times which tends to run differently. In the two healthcare systems, both systems are taking the time to spend quite a bit of the governmental revenue on health but still have two of the lower life expectancies. The United States faces severe challenges in access to health care, cost effectiveness, equity, and to a lesser extent in coordinating care. Meanwhile, the German system is confronted by problems in coordinating care and controlling costs.
Many would agree that a worthy, controlled health system, above all, should essentially contribute to good health. The responsibility of a health care system is that the organization of people, institutions, and resources deliver the health care services required and meet the health needs of focus populations. Another duty that the health care systems stimulate is the reduction of inequality to race, gender, social status and religion. Each health care system is different when looking at specific countries across the world, however some countries are more similar than others, such as France and Canada’s health care system. These two countries have numerous similarities when examining their health care systems, conversely that does not denote that both France and Canada are just as equivalent as the other. When observing countless aspects, such as longevity and infant mortality, as well as a lot of the inputs such as doctors or beds per capita, and of course the total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP over the year, it is seen that France has a better and more enhanced health care system than Canada.
Healthcare is an ever growing concern around the world today. Populations continue to grow and people are living longer than ever. Nations have different systems for healthcare. The United States and Japan are two healthcare systems that are have different coverages for their citizens.
The US health care system is a mixture of private and public sectors. About 80% of care is provided by the private sector. This includes hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, medical devices and medical research. The biggest price tag by far comes from the medical research aspect. This cost has to be passed down to the consumer of course. About 60% of Americans have health insurance which is provided by their employer. People who get their insurance through their employer don’t get charged more based on prior illness, age or gender. Insurance coverage can range in benefits and coverage, but pretty much cover preventative care, prescriptions, and medical care for illness. There is also a co-pay that needs to be payed this is usually
This paper presents a comparison of the health care systems in the United States and the Netherlands. The health care systems in the United States and the Netherlands are both a work in progress. This paper compares the many common strengths and weaknesses between these two countries health care systems using recent data and current trends. The government of the Netherlands has been working towards providing universal health coverage for their citizens since World War II. The government of the United States is divided on the necessity of providing universal health coverage for its citizens; however, it appears to be moving in this direction. The United States approximately 70 years behind the Netherlands on the health care front. Comparing the similarities and differences in the health care systems of the United States and the Netherlands gives a lot of insight into policy changes and reform that could benefit the United States. The continually improving health care system in the Netherlands may be the best model for the United States as it moves towards a Universal Health Care system.
The United States (U.S) healthcare system is a large private system that consist of multiple payers, which leaves the U.S
However, the most common way used worldwide is with payroll deductions, very similar to how it is done in the U.S. In our country most people pay for healthcare insurance by having the cost deducted from their payroll check and often their employer matches the deduction in some way. In those other countries that use payroll deduction instead of the money deduced from the payroll going to an insurance company the deduction goes to the government healthcare system (Berk, 2007).
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.
There are three sources of health insurance coverage, private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is the federal government primary health coverage for those over the age of 65; all persons in this age group are eligible for some basic coverage by Medicare. Although some may only be covered for Medicare part A (hospital coverage only) or part B (physician coverage), but most are covered for both. But for those who are not covered by both, again, presents the problem of being underinsured, which causes the problem of not seeking the medical attention when it is needed. Medicaid is the government?s program for those who are poor and those with disabilities. Private insurance is simply for those who could afford it when it is not offered by the
In Canada or Great Britain, the government funds healthcare providers through taxes, and such a system is called social. The United States, on the other hand, being a profoundly capitalistic country, opted for another route and passed the burden of healthcare spending on private consumers as well as other
Healthcare is the improvement of physical and mental health through the assistance of medical services. The right to health care is an internationally recognized human right. In 1948, 48 nations, including the United States, signed the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “In this document it is stated that everyone should have the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of oneself and one’s family, including medical care” (Right to Health Care ProCon.org). People have the right to receive the health care they deserve regardless of the costs. It is a basic human right to be provided with the medical care and assistance needed to live.
Most government financed systems are inclined to make available for every person living in the nation with treatment which proposes access to some fundamental level of care. Majority of people pay for coverage through taxes and additional charges. In government financed health care the government may provide care itself such as the United Kingdom or they may contact other providers to do so ex: Germany and Japan or in the United States
As some people were skeptical about the basis for the ranking, several studies were conducted, this time including “amenable mortality” in the criteria. France was first in the ranking. One good thing about France’s health care system is that everyone has health care. The country is also reported to rely on private and government insurance. Unlike the United States, France lets its citizens to have freedom in choosing hospitals, doctors, and care. Additionally, the health care system does not put much constrain on doctors with regards to making medical decisions. The same situation is evident on German health care system, where everyone has fully portable health insurance which comes with package of benefits. Like France, Germany lets its patients have freedom in choosing doctor and hospital during illness. A survey showed that patients and physicians in Germany are both satisfied with their health care system (Reinhardt, 1994, p.22).
For Americans, health care coverage depends primarily on whether health insurance is provided by their employer or through two major public programs, Medicaid for the poor and Medicare for the elderly.
One aspect of the French welfare system is universal entitlements. One universal entitlement under the French welfare system is health insurance. Every citizen in Frances is able to have healthcare insurance. For those citizens that are employed, the employer and employee both finance the insurance. However, the government pays for the health care of