Please, reply to the question and comment the discussion. For both, please provide references.
1) Medicare insurance is offered to everyone in the United States at age 65. Some lawmakers want to privatize Medicare, and others believe the United States should move to a one-payer, universal insurance where everyone has Medicare. Please compare the US system with that of
another country's healthcare system (Italy or England) in terms of care for older adults. Which system do you like better, and why?
2) Comment this discussion.
Differences between the US & Canadian Healthcare Systems US No universal health care system. Health insurance coverage is offered through private and public sectors/payers. Highly diversified. 26% is covered by public, 70% by private insurance Those covered privately are under managed care (HMO & PPO) in which members are offered certain services, criteria, and procedures undergoing quality assurance & utilization review. Members can access health care services that have contracts with managed cares. Outside of these networks, members run the risk of paying high health care costs. Public funding is through Medicare (65 & older) & Medicaid. Medicare has 2 parts: A & B. A covers inpatient hospital stay, limited nursing home stay & some home health services. B covers physician services, outpatient services, lab procedures, home health Medicaid covers certain economically disadvantaged persons administered by each state 16% of the US population is uninsured Providers are reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis at a fixed rate under managed care and same applies to a certain degree under Medicare/Medicaid Private insurance require a co-payment from members
Greatest weakness is that 42 million people are without insurance. Another is its inability to control cost due to lack of a centralized system.
Medical spending is the highest in the world Canada Universal health care system. Health insurance coverage is publicly funded Everyone has health insurance No copayments from members and physician choice is unlimited Each province controls medical spending and costs. Expenditure therefore is curbed.
Private health insurance for covered services is illegal Supplemental insurance only for uncovered services e.g. dental and prescription drugs
The scaling down of expenses and fees results in judicious use of services negating unnecessary services (e.g. second opinions)
The key element in controlling spending in the system is regionalization of high technology services (e.g. CT, MRI), specialized practitioners & procedures (e.g. angioplasty, cardiac catheterization)
This regionalization creates "wait times" and delaying access to needed services Both systems have strengths and weakness, so it is hard to pick one which system I like better. I do believe that universal health care system is the way to go for those of us here in the US so that everyone will have equal access to health care regardless of status (i.e. socioeconomic, physical/mental). Additionally, health care spending and costs will be better controlled through a centralized system. The regionalization of advanced procedures and services should be analyzed and studied according to a specific region's demographics and population in order to avoid delays in access to needed services. This should be adjusted and reflected accordingly.