United States versus United Kingdom Healthcare Systems
As Americans, we oftentimes find ourselves comparing our country to others and boasting
about how great ours is. We have lots of pride in our country, but there are some
things that we should be a little more humble about. Access to healthcare in the
United States as compared to the United Kingdom are two completely different realms.
Recognizing this and being humble enough to compare these two forms of healthcare
is essential. Further, access to healthcare varies differently for people of different groups.
Minorities have greater difficulty in having access to adequate healthcare, and this goes
for both countries. Comparing healthcare across these two countries is vital to
understanding how the healthcare industry works and finding its faults and
strengths within.
about how great ours is. We have lots of pride in our country, but there are some
things that we should be a little more humble about. Access to healthcare in the
United States as compared to the United Kingdom are two completely different realms.
Recognizing this and being humble enough to compare these two forms of healthcare
is essential. Further, access to healthcare varies differently for people of different groups.
Minorities have greater difficulty in having access to adequate healthcare, and this goes
for both countries. Comparing healthcare across these two countries is vital to
understanding how the healthcare industry works and finding its faults and
strengths within.
What's the Difference?
America's healthcare system and the United Kingdom's systems are very different. For
example, the United Kingdom has the British National Healthcare System. This system
operates on the belief that healthcare is a right, and not a privilege. However, it is not
completely free. There is an amount of taxation that comes from an individual's income,
which is equal across the board for everyone. Healthcare access is seen as a right for
every individual, so why make prices to be healthy so astronomically expensive?
The United States, on the other hand, has a different way of viewing healthcare: access
is a privilege and not a right. Healthcare is, for the most part, private and not public. There
are many different healthcare providers, but two of the most common are Medicare and
Medicaid. Medicare is a federal program designed for those who are 65+ or those 65 and
under with a disability, income level not mattering. Medicaid is a state and federal level
program that provides health coverage for those with low income status. The goals of
these initiatives are to provide access to healthcare and lower costs.
example, the United Kingdom has the British National Healthcare System. This system
operates on the belief that healthcare is a right, and not a privilege. However, it is not
completely free. There is an amount of taxation that comes from an individual's income,
which is equal across the board for everyone. Healthcare access is seen as a right for
every individual, so why make prices to be healthy so astronomically expensive?
The United States, on the other hand, has a different way of viewing healthcare: access
is a privilege and not a right. Healthcare is, for the most part, private and not public. There
are many different healthcare providers, but two of the most common are Medicare and
Medicaid. Medicare is a federal program designed for those who are 65+ or those 65 and
under with a disability, income level not mattering. Medicaid is a state and federal level
program that provides health coverage for those with low income status. The goals of
these initiatives are to provide access to healthcare and lower costs.
Citations
AIMS Education. “US vs UK: Comparing Medical and Allied Healthcare Services.” AIMS EDUCATION. American Institute of Medical Sciences and Education, August 27, 2015. https://www.aimseducation.edu/blog/us-vs-uk-allied-healthcare/.
|
Created By Anna Kemper, Collin Cahill, Thomas Rosseau, Hayley Sutherland, and Julianna Neuner
|