Universal Heath Care System Comparisons
Our healthcare system in the United States differs greatly from others around the globe. Some say we have the best healthcare, others argue that our system is broken and needs an overhaul. Let’s compare the Universal Healthcare systems of three of the largest countries in the world and examine how they operate.
Canada
Although Canada shares an international border with the USA, the health care system there is radically different. Every citizen has coverage for primary care physician visits, lab tests, X-rays, prenatal and maternity care, and access to hospital facilities. Everyone qualifies – with a few exceptions – regardless of their income, medical history, or standard of living. A couple of provinces charge monthly premiums for these services; however, the amounts are relatively small and affordable.
Some services are at an out of pocket expense including such things as casts, crutches, private hospital rooms, prescriptions, and ambulatory services. There are additional health care plans, such as Blue Cross, that are available through employers or on an individual level that will help subsidize these expenses.
Some people argue that this ease of access to free or inexpensive health care services compromises the quality and efficiency of the care, leading to increased waiting times for procedures, treatments, and surgeries. In some cases, patients must wait 6 months or even up to 2 years for procedures such as MRIs or CT Scans. Perhaps it would be beneficial to migrate to a system similar to that of the USA.
These arguments are definitely with merit; however, Canada enjoys one of the highest life expectancies in the world as well as one of the lowest rates of infant mortality.
Australia
The responsibilities for Australia’s health care system are divided between federal and provincial governments. They are mainly funded by the general tax revenue. Their system relies on Medicare. Medicare will pay the entire amount of treatment in a public hospital and reimburse individuals for physician visits. The health care facility has the choice of billing the patient directly or sending the bill to the Health Insurance Commission. If a patient is billed directly, they will then be reimbursed upon sending in the bill to the Health Insurance Commission .
Australia also offers a Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme, otherwise known as (PBS). This plan subsidizes the cost of prescription drugs, making medicine more affordable for the entire population.
China
The health care system in China is not as developed as some countries throughout the world, although, it has improved substantially from earlier years. Only a few decades ago, China boasted a three tiered health care system.
- Tier 1 – Barefoot Doctors – These physicians were located in smaller villages and provided only the most basic of medial care.
- Tier 2 – Out Patient clinics – These were located in slightly larger towns and cities. There were a limited number of beds and only minor injuries and illness were treated here.
- Tier 3 – Full Service Hospitals – These facilities were used to treat serious illnesses and injuries.
Today, China offers free health care coverage to those employed in large urban companies, and offers their family members inexpensive coverage. Services are not as cheap or high quality for those living in smaller rural areas. This is because the physicians work mostly on a voluntary basis. There is a severe lack of resources in relation to the population of the country.
