The Strength and Weaknesses of Health Care Systems in Germany and the United States.
What makes a health care system "good"? There is no such thing as a
"perfect" system, but already some countries are pretty close. In this essay I
will be writing about two of the leadings countries in health care, Germany and
the United States . Given the complicated nature of the systems, I will narrow it
down to the strength and weaknesses of both countries.
In 1883, the first health care plan for Germany was created.
The government was so impressed that it used this as the model for the nation's
"sickness funds," which finance, deliver, and pay for care. Everyone agreed that
every German should have access to medical services regardless of
employment, income, or ability to pay.The plus side of this plan is that coverage
is universal and benefits include dental care and drugs, as well as cash payments
for eyeglasses, grants for young mothers, and wages while ill. Care is financed
through a payroll tax based income; half paid by employers, half paid by
employees. Individuals are free to purchase private insurance to cover what
is not covered by the plan,and only the very rich are permitted to get out of the
statutory funds and buy private insurance. Once they do so, they can never
again return to the state's funds. The downside to this almost perfect plan
is that getting the medical attention takes longer to receive and when you finally
do get that attention, hospital stays are longer because physicians do all the
follow ups before the patients are allowed to leave. Another problem is that
physicians prescribe almost three time more drugs in Germany than that in the
United States which results in higher drug prices. Also, integration with
East Germany is creating trouble because of the large numbers of new
people entering the system and the need to modernize severely outdated hospitals
and equipment.
Although many would believe that the United States was better
"perfect" system, but already some countries are pretty close. In this essay I
will be writing about two of the leadings countries in health care, Germany and
the United States . Given the complicated nature of the systems, I will narrow it
down to the strength and weaknesses of both countries.
In 1883, the first health care plan for Germany was created.
The government was so impressed that it used this as the model for the nation's
"sickness funds," which finance, deliver, and pay for care. Everyone agreed that
every German should have access to medical services regardless of
employment, income, or ability to pay.The plus side of this plan is that coverage
is universal and benefits include dental care and drugs, as well as cash payments
for eyeglasses, grants for young mothers, and wages while ill. Care is financed
through a payroll tax based income; half paid by employers, half paid by
employees. Individuals are free to purchase private insurance to cover what
is not covered by the plan,and only the very rich are permitted to get out of the
statutory funds and buy private insurance. Once they do so, they can never
again return to the state's funds. The downside to this almost perfect plan
is that getting the medical attention takes longer to receive and when you finally
do get that attention, hospital stays are longer because physicians do all the
follow ups before the patients are allowed to leave. Another problem is that
physicians prescribe almost three time more drugs in Germany than that in the
United States which results in higher drug prices. Also, integration with
East Germany is creating trouble because of the large numbers of new
people entering the system and the need to modernize severely outdated hospitals
and equipment.
Although many would believe that the United States was better