Sick around the world

Sick around the world was a video that taught me about other countries and their health care system. It was interesting to hear how they treat their patients and how the doctors are paid...

The first country visited was Britain. Their health care is different from Americas in that it takes on a more socialistic view of how they run their hospitals and so on. Doctors are paid based on how many patients they have and if they stay healthy. Patients do not, however, have to pay doctor bills.

The next country, which was Japan, has a health care system similar to the U.S. Japanese are known for a long life expectancy. How their system works is that people have to sign up for health care. There are no high taxes and all citizens are covered. This system is called Social insurance. If the patient or citizen loses their job, they will not be at risk of losing their health care (as Americans would). The down side to this is that half of the hospitals are in financial deficit because they don't charge enough.

The next country is Germany. Germany has a system known as the "Bismark Model". They only have to pay a $15 co pay every 2/3 months whereas Americans pay one every time they go into the hospital. Hospitals are not being paid enough and doctors here only earn half of what doctors in the U.S. do.

Taiwan is the next country described. For twenty plus years, Taiwan had the worst health care. Now they are thriving because they looked all around the world comparing different health care systems and taking some tips from each and then making it better. Everyone is treated equal, meaning rich people cannot opt out of health care. Patients have a smart card that they just scan and the doctor can get their entire history and who they are right away. Bills go straight to the government insurance office and is paid immediately. The video shared that most of the citizens are very satisfied with this form of health care.

The last country they interviewed was Switzerland. Their health care system is like the U.S. but is reformed and has a more universal curve to it. They believe that everyone has a right to health care. There are three issues: 1) Insurance companies must accept everyone, 2) Everyone must buy insurance and the government pays for the poor, 3) Doctors and hospitals must accept one standard set of fixed prices.

Learning about each of these countries different style of health care was eye opening. I don't know much about America's health care system but I'm sure there can be improvements. I think that if we do what Taiwan did and look at the other countries and what their system is like and then try to make it better, we would fare well. I do know that U.S. health care is very expensive. I know we can change something without going universal but I'm just not quite sure what that would be.