Different and Equal or Different and Better
The Economics of Health and Health Care
June 10, 2013
Strayer University

Assignment #4
Select a country that has universal health care system provided by that country and provide some background information on this country. The Obama administration passed a health care bill that takes the U.S. part of the way towards a government-controlled system. However, it’s no secret that health care costs are increasing out of control in this country. Research says, as individuals we spend more per person on health care than both food and housing. Insurance premiums are multiplying much faster than inflation, which prevents economic growth and leaves businesses with less money to provide raises or hire more workers. While the quality and availability of medical care in the United States remains among the best in the world, many wonder whether we'd be better off adopting a universal government-controlled health care system like the one used in Canada. America doesn’t have universal health coverage; over 37 million people are without health insurance and approximately 53 million are underinsured, which means that they are inadequately insured in the event of a serious illness. Universal health care is a term that refers to a government system meant to ensure that every citizen or resident of a region that has assess to the required medical services. Thirty years ago there wasn’t a significant difference in the provision of health care between the U.S and Canada. However, Canada, by contrast, not only offers all of its residence comprehensive health care, but it does so at a far lower cost than in the U.S. Since 1971, the healthcare systems have moved in different directions. “Canada has had publicly funded national health insurance their system of financing and delivering health care is known as Medicare, not to be confused