Oxstones Investment Club™Many Americans complain about health care prices, but is care in the US the most expensive? Here’s a look at health costs around the world.
With Americans wondering how a new health care law will affect their access to care — and their wallets — we gathered data on spending and health for a number of countries to see how the United States stacks up. Data is the latest available from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and is for 2011, unless otherwise noted.
Per capita spending: $8,508
Share of GDP spent on health care: 17.7%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 47.8%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 2.5
Nurses per 1,000 people: 11.1
Life expectancy: 78.7
Smoking rate: 14.8%
Obesity rate: 36.5%
In 2000, half of the country had no health insurance, but the country passed a universal health care law a decade ago, creating Seguro Popular, which literally means popular insurance, and has enrolled more than 50 million people.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $977
Share of GDP spent on health care: 6.2%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 47.3%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 2.2
Nurses per 1,000 people: 2.7
Life expectancy: 74.1 years
Smoking rate: Not indicated
Obesity rate: 32.4% (2012)
All residents are covered for emergency medicine and doctor visits, and the system is primarily funded through taxes. Some services require small copays, and a private system covers services such as dental.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $3,012
Share of GDP spent on health care: 9.2%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 77.8%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 4.1
Nurses per 1,000 people: 6.3
Life expectancy: 82.7 years
Smoking rate: 22.5%
Obesity rate: 10%
The system offers universal coverage and no out-of-pocket expenses aside from prescription drugs. The system is partially funded through taxes, and services such as dental care are paid out of pocket.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $3,072
Share of GDP spent on health care: 9.3%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 73%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 4.1
Nurses per 1,000 people: 5.5
Life expectancy: 82.4 years
Smoking rate: 23.9%
Obesity rate: 16.6%
Health care is covered 70% by the government and 30% by the patient. Those without access to insurance through employers can participate in the national health insurance program through local governments. Hospitals are run as nonprofit organizations.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $3,213
Share of GDP spent on health care: 9.6%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 82.1%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 2.2
Nurses per 1,000 people: 10
Life expectancy: 82.7 years
Smoking rate: 20%
Obesity rate: 4.1%
Universal care is provided to residents, including primary care, mental health and hospitals, with cost-sharing for dental and prescription drugs. Health care is largely funded through taxes.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $3,405
Share of GDP spent on health care: 9.4%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 82.8%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 2.8
Nurses per 1,000 people: 8.6
Life expectancy: 81.1 years
Smoking rate: 19.6% (2010)
Obesity rate: 24.8%
Medicare, Australia’s tax-funded universal health care system, covers most medical care, including prescription drugs. About half of Australians have additional private insurance, which is subsidized by the government and covers services such as dental care and private hospitals.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $3,800
Share of GDP spent on health care: 8.9%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 67.8%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 3.3
Nurses per 1,000 people: 10.1
Life expectancy: 82 years
Smoking rate: 15.1% (2010, the latest year available)
Obesity rate: 28.3%
The universal public health system is largely funded through taxation. Dental care is included for children under 21, and adult dental care is partially subsidized.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $3,925
Share of GDP spent on health care: 9.5%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 81.6%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 3.9
Nurses per 1,000 people: 11.1
Life expectancy: 81.9 years
Smoking rate: 13.1%
Obesity rate: 11%
Universal health care is provided through a public-private partnership, with basic care covered by the government.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $4,061
Share of GDP spent on health care: 10.5%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 76%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 2.9
Nurses per 1,000 people: Not indicated
Life expectancy: 80.5 years
Smoking rate: 20.5% (2008)
Obesity rate: 13.8%
According the World Health Organization, France provided the best overall health care (publicly funded universal health care) in the world in 2000.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $4,118
Share of GDP spent on health care: 11.6%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 76.8%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 3.3
Nurses per 1,000 people: 8.7
Life expectancy: 82.2 years
Smoking rate: 23.3% (2010)
Obesity rate: 12.9% (2010)
Since 1883, Germany has had some form of social health insurance. Standard insurance is funded by employee contributions, employer contributions and government subsidies. Some pay a tax to opt out of the standard plan, paying for private insurance based on health status.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $4,495
Share of GDP spent on health care: 11.3%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 76.5%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 3.8
Nurses per 1,000 people: 11.4
Life expectancy: 80.8 years
Smoking rate: 21.9% (2009)
Obesity rate: 14.7% (2009)
Universal health care is for the most part publicly funded. Canadians are guaranteed access to hospital and physician services, but each province determines whether to cover benefits such as dental care and drug coverage. Many Canadians purchase supplemental insurance or have an employer-sponsored policy to cover these things.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $4,522
Share of GDP spent on health care: 11.2%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 70%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 2.4
Nurses per 1,000 people: 9.3
Life expectancy: 81 years
Smoking rate: 15.7%
Obesity rate: 25.4%
Residents receive universal publicly funded care, but have the option to purchase supplemental private insurance. Some people opt to pay for all health care privately.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $4,546
Share of GDP spent on health care: 10.8%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 76.2%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 4.8
Nurses per 1,000 people: 7.8
Life expectancy: 81.1 years
Smoking rate: 23.2% (2006, the latest year available)
Obesity rate: 12.4%
Basic health insurance is mandatory, and insurers are required to offer insurance to everyone and are not allowed to make a profit from basic insurance (but can profit on supplemental plans for dental or other services). Low-income individuals receive government subsidies to help pay for coverage.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $5,643
Share of GDP spent on health care: 11%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 65%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 3.8
Nurses per 1,000 people: 16.6
Life expectancy: 82.8 years
Smoking rate: 20.4% (2007)
Obesity rate: 8.1% (2007)
A universal public health system is paid for largely through taxation. It does not include dental coverage.
Per capita spending (in U.S. dollars): $5,669
Share of GDP spent on health care: 9.3%
Share of health care that is publicly funded: 85%
Doctors per 1,000 people: 3.7
Nurses per 1,000 people: 12.9
Life expectancy: 81.4 years
Smoking rate: 17%
Obesity rate: 10% (2008)
http://money.msn.com/health-and-life-insurance/global-medical-costs-how-the-us-stacks-up
Tags: Australia, Austria, basic health insurance, Belgium, canada, cost of health care, france, Germany, government subsidies, health care, italy, Jaoan, mexico, Norway, spain, Sweden, switzerland, uk, universal public health system, USA