Question

We have examined all aspects of the health care system in the US with the goal of understanding how the system works. We have also learned about how the system affects the health outcomes of individuals living in the US. What is the most surprising fact or concept that you learned this semester? What do you think is the best aspect of the US health care system? What do you think is the worst aspect of the US health care system?

Answer 1

In the States, there is no NHS. If someone gets ill, it's likely they will have to pay for their treatment. The US government does fund two kinds of health plans though: Medicare and Medicaid.However, many Americans have their healthcare paid for by their employer.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers Medicare, a federal program for adults 65 and older and some people with disabilities, and works in partnership with state governments to administer both Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), a conglomeration of federal–state.

The United States is unique among industrial nations in that is does not have just ONE healthcare system type that is applied to all of its residents. Single payer national health service (“socialized” medicine) Single payer national health insurance.

In 2016 the U.S. spent 18% of its GDP on healthcare, whereas the next highest country (Switzerland) devoted 12% of its GDP to healthcare. The average amount spent on healthcare per person in comparable countries ($5,198) is half that of the U.S. ($10,348).

The United States health care system is the most expensive in the world with an annual spending of $3 trillion or $9,523 per person, accounting for 17.5 percent of the gross domestic product. But, consistent analysis shows that the healthcare system in the US is one most underperforming among developed nations. It was ranked last in the 2014 Commonwealth Fund survey 2014 for the fifth time.

The factors considered for judging the survey included quality of care, access to medical facility, efficiency, equity, and healthy lives. In the funds National Scorecard, quality of care can be defined as — one that is safe, effective, coordinated, and patient-centric.

By observing the report, you can clearly map the deficiency in the US health care system. The areas where the US ranked last among the 11 nations were cost-related problems that restricted access to quality care, the efficiency of treatment, equity, and the decreasing healthy lives of citizens.