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In reply to the discussion: Canadians starting to demand the privatized USA Health Care system....... [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)1. Good information, and
note Switzerland has compulsory insurance.
Healthcare in Switzerland is universal[1] and is regulated by the Federal Health Insurance Act of 1994 (Krankenversicherungsgesetz - KVG). Health insurance is compulsory for all persons residing in Switzerland (within three months of taking up residence or being born in the country). International civil servants, members of permanent missions and their family members are exempted from compulsory health insurance. They can, however, apply to join the Swiss health insurance system, within six months of taking up residence in the country.
Health insurance covers the costs of medical treatment and hospitalisation of the insured. However, the insured person pays part of the cost of treatment. This is done (a) by means of an annual excess (or deductible, called the franchise), which ranges from CHF 300 to a maximum of CHF 2,500 as chosen by the insured person (premiums are adjusted accordingly) and (b) by a charge of 10% of the costs over and above the excess up to a stop-loss amount of CHF 700.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Switzerland
Health insurance covers the costs of medical treatment and hospitalisation of the insured. However, the insured person pays part of the cost of treatment. This is done (a) by means of an annual excess (or deductible, called the franchise), which ranges from CHF 300 to a maximum of CHF 2,500 as chosen by the insured person (premiums are adjusted accordingly) and (b) by a charge of 10% of the costs over and above the excess up to a stop-loss amount of CHF 700.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Switzerland
Krugman:
<...>
Finally, the third route to universal coverage relies on private insurance companies, using a combination of regulation and subsidies to ensure that everyone is covered. Switzerland offers the clearest example: everyone is required to buy insurance, insurers cant discriminate based on medical history or pre-existing conditions, and lower-income citizens get government help in paying for their policies.
In this country, the Massachusetts health reform more or less follows the Swiss model; costs are running higher than expected, but the reform has greatly reduced the number of uninsured. And the most common form of health insurance in America, employment-based coverage, actually has some Swiss aspects: to avoid making benefits taxable, employers have to follow rules that effectively rule out discrimination based on medical history and subsidize care for lower-wage workers.
- more -
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/opinion/17krugman.html
Finally, the third route to universal coverage relies on private insurance companies, using a combination of regulation and subsidies to ensure that everyone is covered. Switzerland offers the clearest example: everyone is required to buy insurance, insurers cant discriminate based on medical history or pre-existing conditions, and lower-income citizens get government help in paying for their policies.
In this country, the Massachusetts health reform more or less follows the Swiss model; costs are running higher than expected, but the reform has greatly reduced the number of uninsured. And the most common form of health insurance in America, employment-based coverage, actually has some Swiss aspects: to avoid making benefits taxable, employers have to follow rules that effectively rule out discrimination based on medical history and subsidize care for lower-wage workers.
- more -
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/opinion/17krugman.html
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Canadians starting to demand the privatized USA Health Care system....... [View all]
Logical
Jul 2012
OP
Canadians, Americans, and those of other nationalities all engage in medical tourism.
MADem
Jul 2012
#86
Thanks for this!! I would move to Canada if I was younger. Being 50 hurts my chances.
Logical
Jul 2012
#19
I've only read one thing about Canadian healthcare that I wouldn't like
SickOfTheOnePct
Jul 2012
#11
Complete list of countries that overturned their national health plan after passing one...
Scuba
Jul 2012
#14
I think that is a fact of single payer systems...you have to wait longer, both in line & for
Honeycombe8
Jul 2012
#17
If you have good insurance or are rich, you can jump the line in the U.S.
Lydia Leftcoast
Jul 2012
#32
Bullshit you don't have to wait for a knee replacement if you have insurance in this country.
Ikonoklast
Jul 2012
#35
No need to be ugly. I was speaking from experience and reading on the subject. There are stats.
Honeycombe8
Jul 2012
#47
Chill. What I didn't post was the comparison to Canada: Canada's avg wait time was 45 days for
Honeycombe8
Jul 2012
#58
Well, I will choose universal health care with a wait vs. the stupid USA method. And I have great...
Logical
Jul 2012
#28
What is it with some at DU that they assume that anyone they don't agree with is a freeper?
SickOfTheOnePct
Jul 2012
#38
Yes, I understand that a national average is difficult due to the setup of the system
SickOfTheOnePct
Jul 2012
#52
They're getting very picky about immigration--if you're not rich, they don't want you.
MADem
Jul 2012
#89
They don't get the wait stats from patients. It's reported by care provider admins...
Honeycombe8
Jul 2012
#55
In some provinces, patients cannot buy insurance for anything covered under single payer n/t
SickOfTheOnePct
Jul 2012
#60
Medical tourism - the big secret America's health care industry doesn't want to talk about...
Zalatix
Jul 2012
#96
So 50% of Canadians grade their ins. A or B, while over 60% of Americans grade theirs A or B?
Honeycombe8
Jul 2012
#16
I was gonna say that the headline does not match the content of the post...
and-justice-for-all
Jul 2012
#30