Sick Around The World Movie Analysis

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Healthcare systems are very diverse among multiple countries. In the film Sick around the World, countries, such as Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and Switzerland were compared to the U.S. healthcare system. In this course, I have learned that the U.S. healthcare system is a fragmented, uncoordinated, and decentralized system. The U.S. healthcare system has highly expensive healthcare costs, with a low percentage of individuals who actually have access to healthcare. In this film, the narrator discussed how these additional five countries regulate insurance, services, technology and healthcare consumer satisfaction. After watching this film, I believe the U.S. healthcare system could benefit from multiple country methods involving insurance, …show more content…

In Great Britain, the government or NHS (National Health Service) owns all the hospitals and pays their healthcare expenses out of tax income. The British also have no insurance premiums, no co-payments, and no personal medical bills. Japan individuals, on the other hand, have to sign up for a health insurance policy through his or her employment or a community-based insurer. However, most of their hospitals and doctor offices are privately owned. Japan’s health insurance plans are not allowed to make a profit, while in Germany individuals pay premiums based on their income. Germans pay co-pays like Americans, but only every three months. Similar to the U.S., Germans receive healthcare through the government, but the rich individuals are allowed to pay privately. In Taiwan, the healthcare system provides access to all individuals. This national insurance system requires a payment of everyone, and not just the middle class. Switzerland believes it is also a human right to have access to healthcare. Due to everyone having the right to healthcare access, insurance companies are no longer allowed to cherry pick or cream skim healthy patients. In Switzerland, if someone refuses to pay for