The United States' health care system differs from that in other countries in at least several signifcant ways.
Health care in the U.S. has evolved as mostly privately provided, with government supplementary programs, while in other countries health care has often evolved as government provided, with private supplementary providers.
Pharmaceutical and medical device companies can charge relatively more for their products in the U.S. than they can in other countries.
Physicians in the United States are paid relatively more than in most other countries. In many countries, most physicians are government employees.
In the U.S. relatively more money is spent on care to extend life a few additional months.
Michael Fuerst
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In 1988 my mother went to Britain on an Elderhostel tour. She was 76 and suffering from arthritis which mostly affected her right hip. Walking was painful but mostly tolerable. When the tour was in Sheffield her hip acted up and limited her ability to get around. Aspirin, mother had an antipathy for any stronger medication, wasn't cutting it. When she told the bus driver that she would stay on the bus rather than going on a walking tour he insisted on taking her to the local clinic. She was seen immediately, given medication and outfitted with a cane. She attempted to pay for the service and the cane and as she reached into her purse she was told that there was no charge. "But", she said, "I'm not a British Subject. I'm an American tourist."
"It makes no difference", she was told, "You need care and you are here. There is no charge."
In May 1992 my wife and I took mother to Britain to celebrate her 80th birthday. One evening we were having dinner with a couple that Joan and I had met on vacation in the Caribbean, David and Glenn Eva. David was a solicitor with offices in Manchester. His wife, Glenn operated a bed and breakfast at their home Peaslow Farm. David was a Tory and a firm supporter of Margaret Thatcher. Six month before our visit he had undergone quadruple by-pass surgery. He was aware that health care was a major issue in the Presidential campaign that year. He mentioned that mother was covered by Medicare. David was shocked to learn that she had to carry supplemental health coverage through one of the local HMOs and that it cost her $4000.00 a year for the coverage. He told her that the cost to him of his surgery was exactly Zero. When mother said that we understood that the British had to wait in line for care David was incredulous at the idea. He had a heart attack at the office, was taken to hospital in an ambulance and the by-pass was performed that day.
Admittedly those are isolated anecdotes and not broad based studies but they illustrate a major difference between our for-profit health care industry and the British health care system.
3 Score + 10
Keith Hays