Comparison between the U.S and Britain Health Care System - Essay Example

Introduction

Generally, there exist similarities and variations in Britain and the U.S health care system. The main similarities and differences that are imminent are how the children, employed people, and senior citizens access the health care system. Additionally, there are various similarities and differences in the handling of medications, referrals when seeing a specialist, coverage for preexisting conditions, and financial implications for health care delivery.

A2: Access to Health Care Systems

The main similarity in accessing the healthcare system in U.S and Britain is that one can access health care in either the public or private hospitals. Both countries are known to have the best public and private hospitals. Additionally, there is insurance coverage in both countries, where the employed pay for health insurance covers that take care of the hospital bills for them and their children (Barrows, 2016).

The main difference in the access of the healthcare system in both countries is that in Britain offers a universal health care system to their children, employed and unemployed people, and senior citizens, unlike the U.S government. In U.S. healthcare coverage is uneven, with the poor, minorities, employed and non-employed being unable to access free medical care like in Britain (Berman, 2020).

In the U.S, the employed access health care through their employer's health insurance plan, while the unemployed access healthcare through affordable health insurance plans and low-cost health coverage like Medicaid. Medicaid is sponsored by the government and offers health care services to low-income earners, families, and children, the elderly, people living with disabilities, and pregnant mothers (Adrienne, 2017). For the children in the U.S, they access healthcare through their parent's insurance plan or the children's health insurance program. Children's health insurance plan is sponsored by the government, and for one to be eligible for it must be a child under the age of 19 years, uninsured, and a resident and citizen of the U.S. The retired in the U.S also access health care. There are various programs through which retirees access health care. One of the programs is through Medicare that provides health care access to retirees aged 65 years. Additionally, through the affordable health care act, one can access health for $1,000 per month for the people aged between 55 to 64 (Anspach, 2019).

The other noticeable is that there is a great cost of healthcare in the U.S. than in Britain. The high cost of health care can be associated with most healthcare systems in the U.S. being privatized, unlike in Britain, where most hospitals are public. Additionally, the health care system in Britain is free, owing to the National Health System present in the country (Berman, 2020).

A2A: Coverage of Medication

Medicines are an essential part of any health care system. The main similarity in the U.S. and Britain coverage of medication is that patients can access the medicines in various ways. In both countries, medicines can be covered through health insurance coverage (Cohen, 2017).

However, there exists a difference in terms of coverage for the medication in the U.S. and Britain. The most evident variation is that in the U.S., one can access the medication through health plans sponsored by employers, health insurance coverage, and various programs such as Medicare. In contrast, all medication coverage in Britain available in the National Health Service is free(Berman, 2020). Other medications prescribed and are not available in the national health system can be accessed through insurance cover. The prescribed medicines are available at a flat rate per prescription. Additionally, medication coverage in Britain is cheaper compared to the U.S. (Cohen, 2017).

A2B: Referral to See a Specialist

Referral to see an expert is always in the form of an inscribed directive from the primary care doctor to acquire certain medical services. The main similarities between the healthcare system of the U.S. and Britain are that for one to see a specialist, he/she must be referred to by primary care doctor. Additionally, getting a referral depends on how the primary care doctor feels about your situation.

However, there is a variation in medical appointments to see an expert in the U.S. and Britain's healthcare system. The first variation is that in Britain, you can get private treatment from a specialist without being referred by the primary caregiver.

A2C: Coverage of Preexisting Conditions

Preexisting conditions can be described as a health problem that one had treatment in recent years. The first similarity in U.S and Britain's healthcare systems is that the coverage for the preexisting condition can be done through the health insurance plan. Additionally, the insurance covers in both the U.S and Britain health care systems do cover preexisting conditions.

However, unlike in the U.S., in Britain preexisting conditions cover can be taken care of by the National Health System, since they offer free health care system to all people, irrespective of their employment status, age, and economic status.

A3: Finance Implication for Health Care Delivery

The main similarity in the financial implication for healthcare delivery in the U.S and Britain healthcare system is that there are various ways of financing health care delivery. The ways of financing healthcare delivery include the health insurance plan and various government programs (Gunter, 2018).

The main difference in financing implication for healthcare delivery is that in Britain, the government takes care of health care through NHS. In contrast, for U.S. residents, they depend on the health plan insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid (Gunter, 2018).

Additionally, the other difference in financing implication for healthcare delivery in U.S is the high cost involved. The high out of pocket costs make it hard for the residents of the U.S who are not under any insurance health plan to face limited access to health care. In contrast, Britain has made it possible in terms of reducing the cost of health care access by offering free healthcare services to all. In addition to that, the Britain government also controls the price of prescribed drugs to 12$ per prescribed dose to ensure that its citizens are not limited when accessing health care (Berman,2020).

Moreover, due to the financial implication involved while accessing health care in U.S, the patients are forced to utilize low treatment. This affects the patients' health us conditions deteriorate over time. Additionally, the cost of insurance health plans in U.S is high when compared to Britain. This makes it impossible for the average or low family to afford health insurance in U.S, making it harder for them to access health facilities. Generally, in terms of finance, patients in Britain are not limited to access health care like in U.S.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the health care delivery system in Britain is the best in comparison to that in U.S. Additionally, Britain's health care system is cheaper compared to the U.S. due to the presence of the National Health System.