DNP 835 Topic 4 Discussions:

DQ 1 Explore a country that provides universal health care. What are its health outcomes? How do these outcomes compare to those in the United States? Should universal health care be a concept that the DNP should support? Why or why not?

SAMPLE ANSWER

Universal health care in Germany and the U.S.- Comparative study

Germany and the United States are two countries with vastly different approaches to health care. In Germany, health care is a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution. In the United States, health care is a privilege that is often out of reach for many. So, what can we learn from these two different approaches? In this blog post, we will take a comparative look at universal health care in Germany and the United States. We will explore the benefits and drawbacks of each system and examine what lessons can be gleaned from each.

What is universal health care?

There are many different types of health care systems around the world, but the two most common are universal health care and private health care. Universal health care is a system where everyone is covered by a single payer, typically the government, and private health care is a system where people have to pay for their own health care.

The United States has a private health care system, while Germany has a universal health care system. In general, universal health care systems are more efficient than private ones. They have lower administrative costs and higher patient satisfaction rates. They also tend to cover more people, which leads to better population health outcomes.

One major difference between the two systems is how they are funded. In the United States, private insurance companies play a major role in funding healthcare. In contrast, German taxpayers fund most of the country’s healthcare through taxes. This means that everyone in Germany has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their income level.

Another difference is that in the United States, there is much more variation in the quality of healthcare depending on who you are and where you live. In Germany, everyone has access to high-quality healthcare no matter where they live or how much money they make. This ensures that everyone can receive the treatment they need regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Overall, Germany’s universal health care system outperforms America’s private insurance-based system in several key ways. It provides better coverage for all citizens,

How does universal health care work in Germany?

Germany has a statutory health insurance system, which means that everyone who lives and works in the country is required to have health insurance. Health insurance companies are nonprofit and are regulated by the government.

There are about 130 different health insurance companies in Germany, which are divided into two types: Krankenkassen (sickness funds), which are funded by employee contributions, and private health insurers. Everyone is free to choose which type of insurer they want to be a part of.

Krankenkassen are further divided into two types: those that cover all residents of a particular state ( Gesetzliche Krankenkassen or GKV) and those that only cover certain groups of people such as public sector employees ( Betriebskrankenkasse or BKK).

Private health insurers usually only offer plans to people who are self-employed or whose employers do not offer a company sick fund.

Contributions to health insurance are calculated based on your income and family situation. If you have a low income, you may be eligible for subsidies from the government. Employees usually pay around 14% of their salary towards their health insurance, while employers pay around 7%. The self-employed must pay the entire contribution themselves.

How does universal health care work in the United States?

In the United States, universal health care is often referred to as “Medicare for all.” This means that the federal government would provide health care for all citizens, regardless of their income or employment status. There are a number of ways that this could be done, but the most common proposal is to expand Medicare, the government-run health insurance program for seniors and the disabled, to cover everyone.

Other countries with universal health care systems typically have a single payer system, where the government is the sole provider of health care. In contrast, the United States has a multi-payer system, where both the government and private insurers play a role in providing coverage. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, introduced some elements of universal health care by mandating that all Americans have health insurance and expanding Medicaid, the government-run health insurance program for low-income Americans. However, the ACA did not go as far as many other countries in creating a truly universal system.

One key difference between the German and American approaches to universal health care is that Germany has compulsory health insurance, while there is no such requirement in the United States. In Germany, all citizens are required by law to have health insurance coverage. Employers must provide coverage for their employees, and those who are self-employed can purchase coverage from one of a number of non-profit sickness funds. Children are typically covered under their parents’ policy until they reach adulthood.

Which system is better?

In general, it can be said that the German health care system is better than the American system. This is because the German system provides universal coverage, which means that all citizens have access to health care. In addition, the German system is much more efficient in terms of cost and delivery of care.

One major advantage of the German system over the American one is that it offers universal coverage. This means that all citizens have access to health care, regardless of their income level. In contrast, in the United States, only those who can afford to pay for health insurance are able to receive coverage. This results in a two-tiered system, where the rich have access to quality health care while the poor do not.

In addition to being more equitable, the German health care system is also more efficient in terms of cost and delivery of care. For example, Germany spends about 11% of its GDP on health care, while the United States spends about 17%. Despite this difference in spending, both countries have similar life expectancy rates. In addition, Germany has a lower infant mortality rate than the United States. These outcomes suggest that the German system is better able to provide quality care at a lower cost than the American system.

Why?

There are many different reasons why people in the United States and Germany support or oppose the introduction of universal health care. In the United States, opponents of universal health care argue that it would be too expensive, it would reduce the quality of care, and it would lead to government control over people’s lives. Supporters of universal health care in the United States argue that it would improve the quality of care for everyone, it would reduce costs by making preventative care more available, and it would provide coverage for everyone.

In Germany, supporters of universal health care argue that it is a basic human right, that it would improve the quality of care for everyone, and that it would make health care more affordable. Opponents of universal health care in Germany argue that it would lead to longer wait times for medical procedures, it could lead to lower quality care, and people might abuse the system if they know they will not have to pay for their own medical expenses.

What are the pros and cons of each system?

There are pros and cons to both the German and U.S. health care systems. In Germany, the pro is that the government pays for most health care costs, which means that residents don’t have to worry about paying for health insurance. The con is that there can be long wait times for some procedures because there is only a limited amount of funding from the government. In the U.S., the pro is that people have more choice in their health care providers and treatments. The con is that people have to pay for their own health insurance, which can be expensive, and there are also copays and deductibles that must be met before insurance will cover any costs.

Conclusion

There are many differences between the health care systems in Germany and the United States. In general, Germans enjoy better health outcomes and have more access to care than Americans do. The German system is also much more efficient, costing about half as much per person as the U.S. system does. Despite these advantages, the German system is not perfect. One major drawback is that it can be very hard for foreigners to get coverage, even if they are legal residents of the country. Another downside is that wait times for some procedures can be quite long. Overall, though, the German health care system provides good value for money and offers high-quality care to its citizens. If the United States could learn from some of Germany’s successes, it could make strides towards providing universal health care to all its residents.

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