In any country, all the citizens worry about their general health. Some countries have the means to take care of their population, while others don’t. There’s even the case where a country has the means to take care of everyone, but chooses not to.
The United States of America, a developed nation, could choose to provide universal health care, but due to politics, doesn’t offer it. The United States has several kinds of privately and publicly funded health insurance plans that provide healthcare services. Examples of health care providers are employment-based, and government-based.
In a 2003 US Census Bureau report, 26.6% of US citizens were covered by government-based health care, 60.4% were covered by employment-based and 15.6% had no insurance what so ever.
In Germany, the health service is highly decentralized. Each of the 16 state in Germany takes responsibility to maintain the maintenance and building of hospitals. The state regulated health insurance providers hold some control over running costs. Germany has a universal multi-payer system with two main types of health insurance: “Compulsory health insurance” (Gesetzlich) and “Private” (Privat).
The United States healthcare is funded by 3 different ways. As a benefit for employees and with continued benefits available to retirees. Another is funded by government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, for the eligible low-income persons, those over the age of 65, and people with disabilities. The last coming from the private purchase of health insurance, which is usually purchased from more self-employed citizens.
Germany’s health care is funded through employer and employee payroll taxes. Before people reach the retirement age of 65, people must, by law, pay into health insurance plans. Only certain people can get private health insurance. In Germany, the majority of people gets their insurance from state regulated plans and has over 400 options to choose from.
As mentioned with private insurance in Germany, only 3 types of people can quality for private insurance. Self employed people are excluded from the state-regulated plans and so must take private insurance. People that make over roughly US$3,800 a month can choose to get privately funded insurance instead of state regulated. Public employees like Firemen and Police get reimbursed for part of their health costs by the state but have to be privately insured to cover the rest.
The United States average death age is 78 and is places at 29th in the world. Germany’s average death age is 78.95 and is placed 23rd according to 2007 estimates by The World Fact book. Andorra being number 1 with and average death age of 83.52
Being that the United States and Germany have amazing economies, they can still do better when it comes to health care for their citizens.
