By Amanda Zieminski U S proclaimed to have

* By Amanda Zieminski

*U. S. proclaimed to have best health care system in the world *

*42. 6 million people in U. S. currently without health insurance *

*Report in 2000 *191 member countries *

*1. Good health *2. Responsiveness *3. Fairness in financing *

*29 countries comparable to the U. S. * 1. Cost * 2. Access * 3. Health and well-being * 4. Responsiveness * 5. Fairness in financing * 6. Attainment and performance * 7. Satisfaction *

*U. S. is most expensive in the world! *(U. S. ) $4, 178/capita *(Switzerland) $2, 794/capita *Why? * Administrative and technology costs * Shift from non-profit to for-profit hospitals *

*U. S. is the “Only country in the developed world, except for South Africa that does not provide health care for all of its citizens. ” *Primarily for: * Elderly * Military/veterans * Poor/disabled *

*Highest infant mortality rates out of 14 of the highest income countries in the world *Population lacks access to preventative care so people get even more sick *

*First among 191 countries * The extent to which caregivers are responsive to client/patient expectations with regard to nonhealth areas such as being treated with dignity and respect *

*Least fair of all countries * The degree to which financial contributions to health systems are distributed fairly across the population *

*Attainment= 15 in world *Performance= 37 in world *

*Only 40% of people satisfied with health care system *Denmark=91% satisfied *Finland= 81% satisfied *

*Single-payer health care system such as in MA * cover everyone under a single, publicly financed insurance plan that provides comprehensive health care *Expand Medicare beyond the elderly *