Health Care

United Kingdom
~ GDP for health care - 8.3%
~ No family premiums
~ Socialized Medicine
~ General practitioners are paid based on the patients they see
~ Less choice and longer waits to get medical attention

Japan
~ GDP for health care - 8%
~ $280 per month for family premiums, employers pay more than half.
~ Co- Payments are capped depending on income, but also include 30% of the cost of the procedure
~ "social insurance" everyone must have health insurance, either through public, nonprofit, or community based programs.
~ prices are negotiated each year and with the diet of the Japanese, costs are low
~ More choice, Japan spends too little because the costs are so low

Germany
~ GDP for health care - 10.7%
~ Premium - $750/ month, based on income.
~ Co- Payments- $15 dollars/ month, pregnant and others exempt
~ "social insurance"
~ Can buy insurance from any private, nonprofit "sickness funds"
~ Benefits the rich, they get priority. Doctors don't get paid enough


Taiwan
~ GDP 6.3%
~ $650/ year for 4-person family
~ 20% drug cost up to $6.50, $7 outpatient care, $1.80 dental and traditional Chinese medicine.
~ "National Health Insurance"
~ One insurance company, premiums are split with employers, depending on poverty.
~ Smart cards to store history and bill insurer.
~ lowest administration costs.
~ doesn't approve increases in insurance premiums enough, not taking in enough money.

Switzerland
~ GDP for health care - 11.6%
~ $750 family premium, subsidies for low-income citizens
~ co-payments: 10% of services up to $420/ year.
~ "social insurance"
~ must have coverage, insurance companies don't make profit on basic care.

I think Japan's model is the best out of the five listed. Based on the graph of GDP, Infant Mortality, and others, Japans infant mortality is the lowest, and the GDP is also the lowest. Although diet has a large part to play in the health of Japan's citizens, the health care plan is something that could benefit the US. With negotiations occurring each year over prices, and more choice in insurance because it is privatized, people are treated quickly. Premiums are fairly low, but 30% of an operation is high. With help from the government and caps for poverish people, it makes payments easier than those without insurance in the US.