Question

what would be the benefits if the NHS changed to a private insurance based healthcare system like in the US? Can you include examples and diagrams if possible, thanks!

Answer 1

In US, medical insurance is a program that is paid for medical expenses, whether through privately purchased insurance, social insurance or a program funded by the government.  It is also known as health coverage or health benefits. More precisely it is a term used to describe any form of insurance that provides protection against the costs of medical services. The U.S. health care system is unique among developed countries. It does not have a uniform health system, has no universal health care coverage. US is primarily a capitalist society, where goods and services are provided in exchange for money. Here, the patient directly pays the doctor who provides the service. There have been increasing numbers of health insurance systems, however, because most people cannot afford the cost of new high-technology services. It is not health insurance, it is actually illness insurance. About 85% of the U.S. population is covered by insurance plans, and insurance now pays the majority of health care costs. Insurance pays about 90% of the money spent on hospital care, and 74% of the money paid to doctors. Private health insurance is provided by private companies. Individuals or companies pay health insurance companies a monthly fee for health insurance. In return, the health insurance company agrees to pay the doctor and hospital costs if the individual/employee gets sick. There are different levels of coverage that an individual or companies can purchase. The more expense the individual or company is willing to pay, the less the insurance company will charge for the insurance.

Freedom of choice is one of the greatest advantages of the American health care system. Doctors can choose where to practice medicine and patients can choose the doctor from whom they want to get treated. However, the despicable cost of medical care in US is one of the greatest disadvantages of our system. Costs are rising at a faster pace than most other expenses. The United States health care system relies heavily on private health insurance, which is the primary source of coverage for most Americans. Most private health coverage is employment-based.