The United States is spending more per capita on health coverage than other developed economies. The quantity of resources allotted to medical care by a nation varies according to its political, economic, as well as social factors. These comparisons show that the U.S. spends a massive amount of money on healthcare. For example, in the U.S., the per person healthcare costs are projected to be 16.9 percent of the gross domestic product, the highest in the developed world. However, Switzerland and Australia contribute just 9.3 percent, which is almost half of what the U.S. pays (Bibbins-Domingo, 2019). Thus, the U.S. health expenditure is excessively higher than the other two countries.
Overall, healthcare results are graded in terms of life expectancy. Lifespan in the U.S. is roughly 78 years, which would be five and four years lower than Switzerland and Australia, respectively. According to Mosquera et al. (2019), the U.S. has a ratio of avoidable mortality that is much more than twice that of Switzerland (83 fatalities for every 100,000) and Australia (133 deaths for every 100,000). Racism and ethnic prejudice contribute to decreased life expectancy in the U.S. Non-Hispanic black-Americans have a lifespan of 75 years, non-Hispanic whites have a survival rate of 78 years, and Hispanic-Americans have a lifespan of 81 years (Mosquera et al., 2019). Aside from the variables above, other variables that lead to the previously mentioned incidence include poverty levels among minorities and drug and other substance use, among other causes.
One aspect of Switzerland’s health care system is its largely decentralized universal care structure, with regions having an essential role in health care management. Enrollment premiums, levies (primarily regional government), social insurance premiums, and out-of-pocket charges contribute to the system’s funding (Mosquera et al., 2019). Thus, the country has an extensive network of physicians and clean, well-equipped medical facilities. Moreover, treatment wait times are minimal, clients are free to pick their specialist, have unrestricted care coordination, and hospital emergency departments are rarely overcrowded (Bibbins-Domingo, 2019). Consequently, in Australia, care is accessible to everyone within public healthcare structure that is either free or operating at lowered charges under Medicare. All care providers in the private sector including independent healthcare facilities are part of the private sector (Mosquera et al., 2019). Furthermore, personal health coverage provides an alternative to the public health system, with people paying their health care expenses.
References
Bibbins-Domingo, K. (2019). Integrating social care into the delivery of health care. JAMA, 322(18), 1763. Web.
Mosquera, I., González-Rábago, Y., Martín, U., & Bacigalupe, A. (2019). Socio-economic inequalities in life expectancy and health expectancy at age 50 and over in European countries. Socio-Economic Dimensions in Extended Working Lives, 68(4), 255-288. Web.