Nationalized Models and Country Comparison
HLT-205
November 21, 2011
Nationalized Models and Country Comparison Chart
Comparing health care system can be a beneficial tool when making changes to an existing system. When two countries use different fundamentals in their health care systems, looking at the similarities and differences allows for comparison and change in a current system. Collecting this data and comparing it gives countries the opportunity to make changes and implement new strategies to better their existing health care systems.
The United States health care is predominantly comprised of private health care providers which are paid for by citizens paying for private medical insurance. There is some supplemented insurance available for poor and disabled citizens who are subsidized by the federal government but available through the different states. The senior citizens have a federally funded health care referred to as Medicare, which is funded by money collected from workers throughout their careers. Germany has one the oldest national health plans in Europe. The plan is for all citizen of Germany to have health insurance. It is required for the workers to pay a percentage of their income into the national plan. The rate of premiums is then based on a person’s level of income. The national plan then allows higher wage earners to opt out of this plan and pay for private insurance.
The United States struggles with the high cost of health care and having the ability to continue to provide basic coverage through Medicare and Medicaid. The German plan has created health insurance for its entire citizen with a surplus of over 5 billion dollars (Miriam Widman, 2011). The plan is cost effective for the German system. The United States is trying to explain how they will pay for the health care plan they have and the part they want to add. The problem starts with almost 45 million uninsured Americans (Arthur Garson Jr, MD, MPH, 2012). The health system in place for the German system has
November 21, 2011
Nationalized Models and Country Comparison Chart
Comparing health care system can be a beneficial tool when making changes to an existing system. When two countries use different fundamentals in their health care systems, looking at the similarities and differences allows for comparison and change in a current system. Collecting this data and comparing it gives countries the opportunity to make changes and implement new strategies to better their existing health care systems.
The United States health care is predominantly comprised of private health care providers which are paid for by citizens paying for private medical insurance. There is some supplemented insurance available for poor and disabled citizens who are subsidized by the federal government but available through the different states. The senior citizens have a federally funded health care referred to as Medicare, which is funded by money collected from workers throughout their careers. Germany has one the oldest national health plans in Europe. The plan is for all citizen of Germany to have health insurance. It is required for the workers to pay a percentage of their income into the national plan. The rate of premiums is then based on a person’s level of income. The national plan then allows higher wage earners to opt out of this plan and pay for private insurance.
The United States struggles with the high cost of health care and having the ability to continue to provide basic coverage through Medicare and Medicaid. The German plan has created health insurance for its entire citizen with a surplus of over 5 billion dollars (Miriam Widman, 2011). The plan is cost effective for the German system. The United States is trying to explain how they will pay for the health care plan they have and the part they want to add. The problem starts with almost 45 million uninsured Americans (Arthur Garson Jr, MD, MPH, 2012). The health system in place for the German system has
References: Garson, Arthur. "The US Healthcare System 2010." The US Healthcare System 2010. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. . Squires, David A. "The U.S. Health System in Perspective: A Comparison of Twelve Industrialized Nations." N.p., July 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. Widman, Miriam. "Germans Confused Over U.S. Healthcare Debate." The Lund Report. N.p., 14 Mar. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. .