Health Care Blog Post

Different countries have adopted different health care programs and have all had varied successes and concerns about each system.

The United Kingdom

-8.3% GDP
-No Co-payments
-"Socialized medicine" system in which the government both pays for and provides healthcare.
-Britons pay taxes and the NHS distributes those funds to health care providers. The -Administrative costs are low.
-Concerns include long waits and limited choice, however reforms are attempting to respond to these issues.


Japan

-8% GDP
-Avg Family Premium @280 per/mo, employees paying more than half
-Co-payment 30 percent of the cost of a procedure, but the total amount paid in a month is capped according to income.
-"Social insurance" system in which all citizens are required to have health insurance, either through their work or purchased from a nonprofit, community-based plan.
-Best health statistics in the world
-Concerns include spending too little on health care

Germany

-10.7 % GDP
-Avg Family Premium: $750 per month; premiums are pegged to patients' income.
-Co-payments 10 euros ($15) every three months; some patients, like pregnant women, are exempt.
-social insurance model/sickness funds
-single-payment system, but instead of the government negotiating the prices, the sickness funds bargain with doctors as a group
-Patients can go straight to specialist
-Concerns include underpaid doctors

Taiwan

-6.3% GDP
-Avg family premium $650 per year for a family for four.
-Co-payments 20 percent of the cost of drugs, up to $6.50; up to $7 for outpatient care; $1.80 for dental and traditional Chinese medicine. There are exemptions for major diseases, childbirth, preventive services, and for the poor, veterans, and children.
-"National Health Insurance" Like Japan/Germany, all citizens must have insurance, but there is only one, government-run insurer.
-Lowest administrative costs in thee world
-Smart cards
-Concerns include not taking in enough money to provide for care

Switzerland

-11.6% GDP
-Avg monthly family premium $750, paid entirely by consumers; there are government subsidies for low-income citizens.
-Co-payments 10 percent of the cost of services, up to $420 per year.
-"social insurance"
-universal coverage
-second most expensive in the world next to US


In my opinion, I think the United Kingdom has he best health care system. The administrative costs are low and the requirement to see your GP before seeing a specialist keeps GP's in business. GP's are also critical in providing preventative care.