How the two health systems compare
WHO DELIVERS THE CARE? UK:
Vast majority of hospitals are owned by the state, the NHS. US: Hospitals owned by private organisations and charities.
HOW IS IT FUNDED?
UK: NHS is funded by taxes and its current budget is £122billion. Around four million people have private health insurance.
US: Households sign up to insurance schemes, usually through the workplace. Older people can access a government scheme called Medicare, while Medicaid is available for the poor.
WHO QUALIFIES?
UK: 100 per cent of the population receive healthcare free at the point of use. If you are visiting the UK then you should be charged for treatment.
US: 90.9 per cent covered by health insurance. The 28million with no insurance rely on charity or pay upfront. Among developed nations, only Greece has worse cover. Visitors must have insurance.
HOW DO YOU PAY?
UK: Largely free for ‘ordinary residents’ apart from charges for prescriptions, dentistry and eye tests.
US: Typical medical cover costs £4,000 a year per person. They pay extra to see a GP and have x-rays. Hospital treatment will be covered by insurance. Those without will be asked to pay up-front. Emergency care usually paid for after the event.
AMOUNT SPENT ON HEALTH
UK: Total of 9.7 per cent of GDP is spent on private and state healthcare combined. The Government spends 7.7 per cent of GDP on health.
US: America spends 17.2 per cent of GDP on healthcare, 8.5 per cent comes from the government. Much of the higher US cost is down to the administration costs of a private insurance system.
HOW FLEXIBLE IS EACH SYSTEM? UK:
Services can be ‘rationed’ to bring down costs. GPs act as gatekeepers, stopping many patients seeing consultants. Waiting times can be a problem, and some high-cost drugs can be refused.
US: More ‘personalised’ – if you have insurance. Scheme members can often get in straight to see a consultant and expensive drugs are available for those who can pay for good insurance.
WHAT IS TRUMP TRYING TO DO?
Barack Obama’s ‘ Obamacare’ system aimed to get more Americans insured by subsidising policies. Nevertheless, 28milion still have no insurance. Trump wants to reform the scheme and won support from middle class families who said they couldn’t afford the higher premiums that resulted from Obamacare. Opponents of Trump say his plan would see the number of uninsured people double.