Health Care Coverage

The spectrum of health care systems

No government involvement in health care - All hospitals are privately owned and all health insurance is privately underwritten. In the most extreme case, doctors and hospitals would not be licensed by a government agency. Treatments and pharmaceuticals would be unregulated by the government. The only regulations that would apply to health care would be laws that apply to all other industries such as laws against fraud.

Regulation of practice and treatment - Doctors and hospitals must meet certain minimum standards set by a state or federal government. In the case of minimal regulation, harmful or useless pharmaceuticals and treatments are not allowed to be sold. Warning labels for some medications or treatments may be required by the government. Regulations for pharmaceuticals could range from minimal standards to extensive testing for efficacy on a certain condition.

Regulation of prices - Pharmaceuticals, treatments, or pay for doctors may be regulated by the government in order to keep prices down.

Regulations of private insurance markets - Mandates for coverage of certain conditions and perhaps requirements for deductibles. Rates or underwriting practices may be regulated by the state or federal government. In an extreme case, underwriting is basically outlawed with guaranteed insurance laws and community rating. The insurance may be mandatory, provided by employer, or freely purchased by individuals.

Government payment for medical care - In one way or another the government sets up an insurance program. These programs could range from coverage for specific groups or for an entire population.

Government provision of health care - A state agency owns and operates hospitals. With today's current system, some hospitals are government owned such as VA hospitals or county hospitals. In the British National Health Service, the government owns the hospitals and general practitioners contract with the National Health Service.

The US has a little bit of all of these systems to one degree or another.

I will post some information on other health care systems around the world shortly.