Write a research paper of 800-1,200 words comparing the U.S. health system to another
country’s health system.
Focus on whether the other country has achieved adequate health outcomes and if it has managed
to do so for less money.
U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM PAPER
Different countries compare and contrast in the way they run their health systems and
deliver Medicare to citizens. In this paper, the focus will be the comparison of the Australian
healthcare systems to that adopted in the United States. There are important factors that help in
revealing the difference in the health systems. These factors include the life expectancy of each
country, overall health status and also private and public systems in each country (Eckelman et
al, 2016). Australia has enhanced quality and safety commission in its healthcare. Reforms focus
on improving efficiency, access to care improvement and ensuring the transparency of public
funds spending in health centers. The Australian commission enhances effective and safe
management of medication to reduce harm to its citizens, which is a major goal (Bundey, 2014).
Provision of evidence-based care and partnership with other healthcare providers to ensure
citizens receive quality Medicare. The Australian healthcare system provides its citizens with
universal health coverage both for private and public forms irrespective of whether one is a
visitor or permanent residents as long as the necessary arrangements are made (Bundey, 2014).
The medicare program is provided as a health insurance form. Medicare in the Australian
health system ensures universal access to pharmaceuticals and medical services that are
subsidized in nature as well as free treatment in public hospitals. Indigenous health programs,
U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM PAPER 2
mental health, and population health are also services offered by the Australian government
(Robertson et al, 2016). Health systems ensure people have a lower premium of life after joining
the health fund regardless of their health status. The government regulates the fund provided by
nonprofit or for-profit insurers. Australia has the best life expectancy rates as compared to the
United States (Robertson et al, 2016). The life expectancy in Australia is rated to be 82 years and
ranked fourth in the world. The health status of people is used to measure life quality. The life
quality in Australia highly ranked based on the gross domestic product, education and life
expectancy measures. The Australian health systems have enhanced measure to ensure the health
budget is affordable and funds are redirected to bring better effects (Robertson et al, 2016).
The health system in the United States has implements reforms where coverage for
health is provided by the employers or insurance marketplace. An affordable act in the health
system in the USA has enhanced more insurance of its citizens. Strengthening healthcare through
sustenance of Medicare and ensuring all Americans get access to affordable insurances is the
first major goal in the USA. The advancement of innovation and technology is identified as the
second essential goal in the health system (Eckelman et al, 2016). Focus on improving medical
production, improve health and increase awareness of practices in the health sector. The health
system in the USA has in place the human and health services goals which aim improving
coordination of programs as well as enhance evidence-based practices. HHS partners with
private sectors, government, state and other collaborators to improve care delivery. Medicaid
requirements set by individual states have to be fulfilled before receiving medical coverage.
Terms of basic and major medical coverage by insurance firms is all about what will be paid out
by patients. The life expectancy rate in the USA is 78 years which is slightly lower compared to
U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM PAPER 3
that of Australia. The health status in the USA faces flaws in affordable care act especially
shortage of health professionals (Eckelman et al, 2016).
The Australian healthcare system offers health coverage to all its people where citizens
pay little amounts as co-pay to receive coverage. The USA healthcare system should adopt such
a system where coverage is provided from the moment one is born. However, both health
systems have enhanced effective measures to provide quality patient-centered care, provide
health coverage with the objective of improving care delivery to the citizens (Robertson et al,
2016). Australia has spent lower funds to provide coverage and lead to the desired outcomes as
compared to the USA. The United States spend a lot in its health systems despite only providing
coverage some poor people, disabled and elderly. Spending per capita in the Australian health
system is lower compared to the United States. Total health spending for Australia is 3800USD
while for the USA is 8508 USD per capita (Eckelman et al, 2016). The quality of healthcare
system cost is 64.53% in Australia ranked at the 27th place compared to rates of 45.81 in the
USA. Such rates indicate the use of lower cost by the health systems in Australia to achieve more
health outcomes compared to the United States.
The Australian health system minimizes used of the fund and maximize the benefits of
the systems by making care to be readily accessible regardless of the type of insurance or one’s
income(Robertson et al,2016). The Australian federal government finances health services and
specialized care for the citizens. Taxpayer’s money is used in the Australian health system to
cover the costs used in implementing strategies aimed at enhancing better health outcomes. The
health system in Australia uses the low amount of funds to provide universal coverage to its
citizens as compared to the USA using huge amounts of funds and still does not offer full
coverage. In a nutshell, the comparison between the two heath systems indicates that Australia
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has achieved to achieve its desired health outcomes with low spending of finances (Bundey,
2014).
References
Bundey, F. (2014). PUTTING THE $7 CO-PAYMENT IN CONTEXT: AUSTRALIA’S
INCREASINGLY FINANCIALISED SYSTEM OF HEALTHCARE. Journal Of
Australian Political Economy, (73), 58-75.
Eckelman, M. J., & Sherman, J. (2016). Environmental Impacts of the U.S. Health Care System
and Effects on Public Health. Plos ONE, 11(6), 1-14.
Robertson, J., Newby, D. A., & Walkom, E. J. (2016). Health Care Spending: Changes in the
Perceptions of the Australian Public. Plos ONE, 11(6), 1-12.