Summary: Tale Of Two Health Systems

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Tale of Two Health Systems Stephanie Alston Excelsior College Abstract In today’s media outlets and congressional talks, there seems to be a continuing debate on the state of the US health system. In 2014, the Social Progress Index report rated the U.S. at 70th in health and wellness out of 132 nations. (Squires, 2012) According to a 2011 Health Policy study the U.S. ranks dead last in preventable deaths among 16 developed countries. $2.3 trillion dollars are spent annually on healthcare. (Squires, 2012) This cost is about 18% of the Gross Domestic Product. This percentage calculates to roughly a health care cost of $8,500 per person in the U.S. versus $ 5,900 per person spent in Canada. (Squires, 2012) Compared to other countries,…show more content…
Health premiums to supplement healthcare funding are required by three of the larger territories. (Squires, 2012) The Canadian government health care funds are distributed via the Canadian Health and Social Transfer (CHST). The amount of funding is significant and exceeded a little over $50 billion in 2012-2013. (Ross, 2008) In 2013, the new budget had to add $50 billion of investment funds into the health care system, to maintain operations. Canada's health care system has a large impact on the Canadian economy. (Squires, 2012) In 1950, the USA spent $12.1 billion on health care, and now an estimated $5.2 trillion are spent annually, and the costs keep rising. Spending in the U.S. is the highest in the nation. In the next two years, the US is expected to spend about $13,000 per person. The U.S. medical care system is primarily a for profit insurance plan usually provided to employees as a workforce benefit that are part of the compensation package. Health care costs are now more than 17% of the U.S. national economy. (Ross, 2008) Quality and…show more content…
It has been established that the financing of each system is significantly different. However, both systems share the same values when it comes to providing quality care to those patients that require clinical care. The U.S. and Canadian health systems are encountering similar challenges, and both require future reforms. 1. Decreasing health care spending. 2. Integrating new technologies and improving patient safety and the quality of the health care delivery. 3. Improving and increasing access to qualified health professionals. The Canadian health system provides access to health care to all citizens. Patients may complain of long wait time in care and poor access to specialist. However, universal coverage provides care to all citizens. While, citizens in the U.S. that are uninsured due to poverty and inadequate access have a higher rate of mortality, increase the risk of chronic disease and no preventative care. Health care reform in the U.S. is no longer an option. The current U.S. healthcare delivery system is failing, and the poor are suffering.

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