Comparison of Healthcare in the United States with Japan - Research Paper Example

Compare healthcare in the United s with Japan Comparisons between the United s and Japan’s health care systems The two countries are among the world’s greatest economies. They have different population and growth levels. Similarly, the two countries show different approaches in their health systems as well as some close similarities (Cohn, 2010). Mainly, Japan is widely recognized as among the nations that pose challenges to livelihood because of the expensive lifestyles. However, the Japanese nation offers free medical services to all of the citizens despite of the differences in societal and demographic welfare (Rodwin, 2003). On the contrary, America provides health services to 27% of the population with the rest having to rely on insurance covers. Japan practices the Bismarck approach whereas U.S.A practices the National Health System approach. Description of the Beveridge, Bismarck, National Health Insurance and Out-of-Pocket models Beveridge is a health system that originated from the United Kingdom and stipulated that the government would cater for all health costs and cover the entire population. The government would obtain revenue from taxation from the citizens in order to be capable of paying doctors’ bills (Busse, Schreyogg, and Gericke, 2007). The Bismarck model is relative to the German and American practices, since the model dictates that employers and employees should cooperate in remitting taxes as they are salient in budgeting for medical and health care programs. The Bismarck health policy covers all citizens in the countries that put it in practice, for example Japan, Switzerland, and Latin America. The National Health Insurance Model stipulates that all citizens should remit taxes to an insurance system that would remit medical covers through private and public health providers (Cohn, 2010). Finally, the Out-of-pocket model is the most common health system globally, and it stipulates that the individual citizens should cater for all their medical expenses. 2. Health care financing in the U.S and Japan America adapts to various models in ensuring that all citizens acquire the required health services. The practices closely imply that the nation practices three different approaches depending on demographic group of the population that the country targets to serve. For instance, the nation practices Beveridge model when treating military and government staff, adapts to the National Health System when addressing health issues related to citizens above 65 years, adapts to the Bismarck model when addressing the working class, and finally the out-of-pocket model when addressing to 15% of the population that lacks insurance covers. On the contrary, Japan adapts to the Bismarck model whereby citizens make contributions to the government and health services are delivered equally to the entire population through private and public health care facilities (Rodwin, 2003). The average premium for an adult and for a four member family in U.S.A and Japan Japan requires its citizens to remit 30% of the total amount of premium thus contributing 70% of the Gross National Product. On the other hand, America charges a fixed premium on its citizens without any government remittances whatsoever (Cohn, 2010). Therefore, Japanese contributes an amount of US$100 each whereas their U.S counterparts contribute US$1500 to cater for their health premiums (Busse, Schreyogg, and Gericke, 2007). Further, Japan contrasts with the U.S.A in inquiring of premiums for families with member families. Japan requires a monthly payment of $280 while the US requires an amount of $2500 to cater for the health premiums (Cohn, 2010). Presence, purpose, and the costs of co-pays The American and Japanese health systems stipulate that patients must remit a given amount of copayments to the insurer before attaining medical attention (Busse, Schreyogg, and Gericke, 2007). However, the two establish distinct approaches on the amount of copayment required from each patient (Gorski, 2012). For example, U.S.A requires patients to pay up to $45 dollars while Japan inquires its patients to pay $5 for medical attention (Rodwin, 2003). 3. A discussion of the health care plans in US and Japan Japan exercises different health care plans for different social status and demographics. These plans enable the involved parties to yield the accrued benefits prescribed by the government. The government provides for teacher plans that cater for the medical needs of teachers only (Busse, Schreyogg, and Gericke, 2007). The authorities design the plans in a customized manner to accommodate the needs of teachers. Secondly, Japan provides individual plans that handle sole problems of individuals and their families (Gorski, 2012). The plan is often viable for the Japanese citizens living in foreign nations, and it provides a wide range of benefits. Thirdly, the health system includes family plans, which are comprehensive in the provision of protective measures for immediate family members. Lastly, Japan’s health system caters for group plans and travel plans for social clubs and extended foreign tours respectively. U.S.A outlines on various health plans that would be accrued by patients falling under stipulated set of groups. The authorities ensure that 91% of its population gain access to medical and health covers through the insurance and other medical plans (Cohn, 2010). The U.S government runs the Defense enrollment and eligibility system (DEERS), with an aim of serving members of the military providently during and after their tenure. American authorities further incorporated the system to The Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) in the United States (Busse, Schreyogg, and Gericke, 2007). Mainly, the two programs operate under the mandate and supervision of the department of defense in America (Gorski, 2012). Throughout the past three decades, the program has relatively resolved various problems that would hinder access to information. Civil servants benefit from their payroll remittances in the Medicare and Medicaid programs (Rodwin, 2003). The government encourages the rest of the population to pay insurance premiums that would cater for all their health issues. Comparisons between the two countries reveal some differences and similarities in the practices of delivering health plans (Hogberg, 2006). For instance, Japan allows its citizens to insure with private companies throughout the country and overseas depending on the proximity and access of the benefits whenever the need arises. On the contrary, U.S.A ensures that 60% of its population insure with the national health insurance system, which enables them to acquire prompt attention via online responses whenever the need arises. Therefore, the two countries show similarities in that the authorities emphasize on the importance of contributing to health insurance (Brown, 2011). However, the authorities practice different approaches to insurance bodies as America dictates for the national firm while Japan allows insurance from a multiple number of firms. Consequently, U.S.A does not impose controls on the cost of premiums whereas Japan maintains a strict approach to the cost of premiums from the various offering insurance services (Gorski, 2012). 4. Discussion on the general role of a gatekeeper The two nations describe various roles for the legal entities mandated to deliver health services to the community. These entities are referred to as gatekeepers and their purposes differ from one country to another. The Japanese authorities’ applaud the private sector that serves the majority population in the country (Hogberg, 2006). These private stakeholders form the gatekeeper category of the health provision team, with a higher percentage of them relying on the constitutional clauses that dictate the medical operations. For instance, Japan curbs any sole decision that focuses on the reduction or increment on the costs of health care (Brown, 2011). America owns most of the health facilities in the country compared to Japan. However, most of the physicians are private thus; they often charge a fee upon delivery of each service. The country does not dictate the charges imposed by the physicians thus; the health insurance body covers for all claims arising thereof (Rodwin, 2003). Therefore, gatekeepers from the two countries deliver health services in accordance to the constitutional stipulations but differ on the approach of imposing service fees. 5. The available alternatives coherent to individuals who lose their healthcare because of job loss Americans acquire various benefits from insurance covers during their employment tenure. The country comprises of a majority population in the middle class category and these amount to the 60% of the insured population (Hogberg, 2006). In the course of living, individuals face difficult challenges, which at times render them to unemployment or to the loss of their sole businesses. The American authorities realize that these two factors endanger the standards of living through reduced incomes that can hardly cater for the necessities. Therefore, the nation recognizes the plight of such citizens and recommends on the various approaches that will serve to ensure such individuals gain access to proper health care (Brown, 2011). First, the US government ensures that the challenged population gains membership in the Medicaid system which provides for the challenged population. Alternatively, individuals can acquire access to the medical services through registration as family members of insured kinsmen. Japan has a system that secures a degree of concern for all citizens living in the country or in foreign countries. The country ensures that all citizens remit taxes to the health care system as stipulated by the legal constitution. The importance of the approach is a surety that all individuals shall acquire necessary health care as a constitutional right. Seemingly, individuals remitting premiums partly through their payroll deduction may fall under challenges whenever they lose their jobs. However, the government understands of the threats borne by the loss of jobs and contravenes the threats with alternatives. The government requires that unemployed individuals pay 10% to 30% of the amount required for premiums (Hogberg, 2006). However, some of the unemployed individuals may lack the capacity to contribute towards the insurance premiums thus; the government intervenes and contributes the wholesome amount required from the poor citizens. 6. The meaning of medical bankruptcy Americans and Japanese citizens often face medical challenges as citizens from other countries. These challenges emanate from the inability to cater for the insurance costs and the stipulated amount of copayments for patients seeking to acquire medical attention. Such challenges may drain the individual financial capabilities thus; citizens may invest heavily to save lives and eventually their income generation in the due course (Brown, 2011). Therefore, authorities maintain that an individual lacking the ability to purchase a health care policy falls under the category of medical bankruptcy. Expressly, medical service costs reflect a continuous rise despite the stagnation of salaries among individuals. These challenges result in a 90% total count of medical cases among the total number of bankruptcy cases. Effects of medical bankruptcy in Japan and U.S.A Among the developed countries in the world, Americans face most of the medical challenges which steer the urge to file for bankruptcy. The national health system dictates on the importance of health insurance covers. Despite the emphases, 9% of the American population fall to under-insurance and uninsured categories of the population. These challenges exhort the vulnerability of medical bankruptcy for ailing deviants. American statistical surveys reveal that 60% of the bankruptcy cases entail medical bankruptcy, a factor that affects 14% of the population after considering relative who would benefit from the insurance policy. America accounts for most of the hospital debts that eventually result bankruptcy (Hogberg, 2006). For example, most dates escalate during the process of medication to an amount $180,000 in some cases while the amount may exceed at given times. The factors stimulating medical bankruptcy in America correlate to the various medical practices exercised by the authorities. In most cases, the health insurance plans do not extend to cover for pre-existing medical problems. Most of these ailments left out of the policy agreement may pose chronic effects thus exposing the victims to costly and regular medical checkups without the support of health insurances (Brown, 2011). These attributes pose challenges to individual and group welfare as such debts may injure the livelihood of several family members dependent on the one declared bankrupt. Unlike in the U.S.A, Japan’s universal health care system curbs chances of medical bankruptcy and in accordance with studies; the country has never experienced medical bankruptcy. Japan ensures that health insurances cover for all medical conditions, a factor that guarantees Japanese of unlikeliest situations upon which they may be exposed to the out-of-pocket method of financing their medical debts. Japan further pays all debts for the financially incapable citizens. 7. The use of health smart cards in Japan and U.S.A America started using smart cards as an alternative to the manual record keeping. The salient role of smart cards was to improve on the methods of handling data of insured patients (Ikegami, and Campbell, 2013). This approach countered the fraudulent practices since uninsured and underinsured citizens would improvise methods to acquire illegal benefits from the health system (Schoen, et al 2013). For the Japanese, health smart cards reflect the urge to technological advancements and ease in handling patients’ data. Therefore, both countries show similarities in the use of the health cards in enhancing efficiency (Hogberg, 2006). Definition of a health smart card Technological advancements took new dimensions in the past two decades with the introduction of internet services. This global linkage affected different businesses and corporations across the globe from the perception that they were threats to the perception that they were opportunities to every business entity (Pritchard, and Wallace, 2013). Health smart cards are precisely plastic devices bearing electronic chips with digital sensitivity. The gadgets are digital and sensitive to computerized commands whenever used in case of a need (Traphagan, 2012). Through the dawn of computerized systems and their use in most of the organizations, smart cards evolved to enable holders to access their information promptly in whenever the need arose. Health smart cards are of significance and of vital use to patients in developed countries (Halamka, 2011). The cards keep information on patients and their systems of payment thus; the technological approach ensures efficiency in the relay of information and curbs the threat of fraudsters into the health system. The vital use of smart cards is to impose correct data handling methods thus limiting claims on errors and enhancing privacy (Borroto, Mizota, and Rakue, 2003). Description of the process of data storage in health care systems With the dawning of the computer error, health systems also advanced in relation to data handling procedures and storage mechanisms. The main aspects stimulating data handling advancements are relative to the population densities, different ailments, various insurance policies, races, and other demographic and economic factors (Krebbs, 2008). The best data collection and storage systems should create ease in recovery, consistence and guaranteed security, and avoidance of errors to the maximum expectations of the concerned parties (Brown, 2011). The United States of America allows for the use of electronic systems in patient data collection and storage. With the presence of new health reform laws, America realizes that the majority of its population would secure health insurance covers thus; the need for an improved mechanism to handle and store their information. Such legal approaches include PPACA and HIT representing Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Information Technology respectively (Wanjek, 2009). Japan uses electronic systems collecting data from patients before and after visiting their health doctors and physicians. The data storage and health care systems cost America a sum of $20 billion with the aim of creating an improved approach to the system dubbed the EHR (Electronic Health Records). With the provision of strict legal formalities, the law will recognize and reward the efforts of physicians and hospitals towards delivery of prompt health services to the American community (Halamka, 2011). Through the technological data handling mechanisms, the country creates a need for all stakeholders to use electronic data in activities concerning health. Through modernized data storage approaches, health physicians gain access to the clients and make online observations (Traphagan, 2012). On the other hand, the government yields the advantage of maintaining and accessing records thus; it becomes easier for it to amass statistical data pertaining the health and wellbeing of the insured citizens (Kuo, 2005). 8. The problems associated with USA’s and Japan’s health care plans The American health plans face overwhelming challenges despite the continuous innovations facilitated to ensure efficiency in the flow of services. The hindrances to the plans emanate from the occurrence and interference of other factors (Halamka, 2011). For instance, the country stipulates that all citizens should have insurance covers in order to gain access to cheap and quality health services. However, the country has a population of 43 million uninsured Americans amounting to 9% of the total population. Other problems in American health systems emanate from pure government interference and restriction to the health and job choices for the citizens (Traphagan, 2012). Further, the government controls accessibility and practices of physicians, medical facilities, and the patients thus posing a challenge to the ideal, ethical, and democratic choices of the health stakeholders (Krebbs, 2008). Despite all the hindrances, America lacks precise approaches to ensure that the health services rendered to the citizens match the anticipated quality and to the stipulated costs. Lastly, the country faces challenges in trying to contain the problem of cost escalation since the constitution allows the physicians to dictate their charges (Yadav, et al 2009). On the other hand, Japan’s health care plans dictate that all citizens should remit taxes as a method of funding the health insurance systems (Borroto, Mizota, and Rakue, 2003). This approach is ill in that the poor who fail to make contributions towards the universal health care will accrue equal advantages to those making the contributions. Another problem engulfing the Japanese health care is the fact that most of the hospitals are private entities despite the controls imposed to dictate on the health charges (Wanjek, 2009). The cost controls further dictate that hospitals are non-profit entities, a factor that harbors prosperity and reinvestment in the health sector. 9. Living in Japan would be the best option for a livelihood according to research Japan is the ideal nation to live in according to the health research conducted. The factors fueling this argument lie besides the strict rules and regulations set by the authorities enforce accessibility to proper health services (Traphagan, 2012). Unlike the U.S.A, Japan provides health services to the poor citizens whereas America provides services to the insured individuals only (Halamka, 2011). The controversy is that U.S spends an excess budget on implementation of proper health services yet fails to service the needs of the entire population (Wanjek, 2009). Further, Japan is the ideal country to live as it ensures health providers deliver equal services to the desired standards at the stipulated charges. The country ensures that all citizens acquire health services that cater for their medical needs. Another attribute that promotes wellbeing in Japan is the fact that the government subsidizes 70% of the universal insurance contributions (Krebbs, 2008). This is an advantageous approach as the citizens have a surplus amount to invest in other alternatives thus; the aspect contributes to growth in per capita incomes. Japan also encourages people to acquire medical services from their desired service providers at a constant cost, a factor that promotes in the standards of health delivery (Traphagan, 2012). References Anderson, G.F., and Squires A.D. (2010). Measuring the U.S Health care systems: A cross-national comparison. Retrieved on March 11 2013, from: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2010/Jun/1412_Anderson_measuring_US_hlt_care_sys_intl_ib.pdf Borroto, S.M., Mizota, T. and Rakue, Y. (2003). Comparison of four health systems: cuba, china,Japan and the usa, an approach to reality. Retrieved on March 11 2013, from: http://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th/seameo/2003_34_4/41-3098.pdf Brasor, P., and Tsubuku, M. (2010). Before Obamacare: Japan’s national healthcare system saves some for private insurers. 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