Introduction
Healthcare is doubtlessly one of the most crucial systems in the mechanism of a state. Being the recognition of the state authorities of one of the citizens’ basic human rights, i.e., the right to obtain free services for the health related concerns, this is an integral part of the state structure. The strategies towards the facilitation of the healthcare services, however, may vary, and the ones of France compared to those of the United States is a very graphic example of such differences. Though the two systems are based on the same set of principles, the approach towards the financial aspect of the healthcare service defines the differences between France and the USA.
Health Statistics and Costs: Comparison Between U.S. and France
As far as the costs for the healthcare system in the specified states are concerned, the U.S. obviously spends the most for providing its citizens with the services that they require. One might make a very slim argument that the population of the United States is impressively greater that that one of France, which predetermines the difference in healthcare related expenditures. However, there are other reasons for the United States to deliver such huge healthcare expenditure results.
Statistically, the U.S. leaves not only France, but also the rest of the states far behind in terms of the expenditures for the healthcare services provision: the 2010 record shows that the health costs made 17.8% of the state’s annual GDP, whereas in France, the costs were much more reasonable (11.6%). It is worth mentioning, though, that the U.S. owe the difference in these rates to the private healthcare sector – regarding the public one, the share of the GDP is basically the same (around 8 % of the total GDP) (Kane, 2012, October 22).
Health Care Financing: Comparison Between U.S. and France
When it comes to defining the financial policies that are used to design the U.S. and the French healthcare systems, the differences between the two clearly start to shine through. On the one hand, the key principle behind the healthcare system financing seems pretty basic – the funds for updating the technology and quality of the services are provided by the government and are taken from the taxes paid by the citizens. However, unlike the United States, where the quality and price of the healthcare services provided depends on the type of an insurance that the patient has, in France, the rates of payment for each patient are practically equal to one. As a result, the healthcare facilities are offered a better financial environment to evolve in. Such a policy allows for being more flexible in their costs and exceeding the budget when needed.
Healthcare Administration: Comparison Between U.S. and France
Defined as a multi-played health insurance model, the healthcare strategy adopted in France relies fully on the so-called “sickness funds” (Hohman, 2006, p. 1). It is remarkable that the funds provided by the France government for the facilitation of decent healthcare services “adhere to a nationally standardized billing and reimbursement procedure” (Dutton, n. d., p. 6).
Health Care Personnel and Facilities: Comparison Between U.S. and France
The skills of the personnel and the quality of the services provided are practically the same in France and the United States. Courses and regular training are provided in both states. As a result, the staff is not only equipped with the latest technology, but is also aware of the latest innovations in the field.
Access and Inequality Issues: Comparison Between U.S. and France
Despite major dents in the current U.S. Medicare policy, the healthcare system allows for every single citizen of the United States to receive the required medical assistance. The fact that the national and ethnic minorities of the United States are provided with equal rights for healthcare services according to the current U.S. legislation should also be mentioned (Global health in developed societies: United States, n. d., p. 2). Therefore, it can be assumed that all members of the U.S. society are provided with equal rights for medical help.
However, the issue regarding equality and the availability of the corresponding healthcare services should definitely be considered broader when it comes to evaluating the current French healthcare system. It has been noted recently that, while the inequality problem cannot be considered a major issue within the realm of the French healthcare system, the lack of equity is definitely a concern for the French healthcare authorities. For instance, the French VHI market has lately been severely criticized “because those on lower incomes or with chronic conditions seemed to struggle to find a private insurance company that would take them on” (Green & Irvine, 2013, p. 7).
Conclusion
Despite the fact that the healthcare systems established in the United States and in France are based on relatively similar principles and are set in comparatively similar settings of democracy and market economy, the differences in financing of the aforementioned field are radical between the USA and France. Since France, unlike America, offers each of its citizens the same opportunities for treatment disregarding the type of insurance that the patient has, a considerable amount of costs is retained in the French healthcare system. The one of the U.S., in its turn, seems to be more flexible and better organized.
Reference List
Dutton, P. V. (n. d.). Health care in France and the United States: Learning from each other. Web.
Global health in developed societies: United States (n. d.). Web.
Green, D. & Irvine, B. (2013). Healthcare systems: France. Web.
Hohman, J. A. (2006). International healthcare systems primer. Web.
Kane, J. (2012). Health costs: How the U.S. compares with other countries. PBS Newshour. Web.