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What Countries Have Universal Health Care?
A few nights ago, I watched Michael Moore's new documentary, SiCKO, which focuses its crosshair on the health care industry in the United States. At one point in the movie, Mr. Moore claims that the United States is the only "westernized" country without universal health care. Is that true?First, what does he mean by "westernized"? Defining the "western world" can be subjective, and definitions will vary depending on what criteria is used. Are you defining it from a cultural standpoint? Political? Economical? Perhaps this is why Mr. Moore felt comfortable making such a broad generalization. Is it even possible to truly define what the "western world" really is?
Okay, forget the western world. (I think I know what he meant anyway.) What countries on our good green Earth provide some sort of universal health care for their citizens? Here they are:
Countries in blue have some type of universal health care. Countries in green are currently attempting to implement some type of universal health care. Orange countries have universal health coverage provided by United States war funding. Source. Click to enlarge.
Afghanistan*, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq*, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom
*Universal health coverage provided by United States war funding
There you go. Keep in mind: this is a simple list of countries that have some sort of publicly sponsored health care system. For instance, Sri Lanka may be far from having a true, working universal health care system like France, but prescription drugs are provided by a government-owned drug manufacturer. This qualifies as "some sort of publicly sponsored, universal health care system."
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
robert Feb 1st 2008 6:28AM
I do not the real numbers , but i know a few friends who work for Insurance companies and dozens of top executives are making anywhere from 1million to 30 million or more a YEAR with there salary and stock options( the stock go up the more the company profits , therefor it is in there interest to spend as LEAST as possible ) Lets say the industry takes in 300 billion a year they spend 100 billion and of course profit the rest( they most likely do not spend a third of what they bring in ) , but we will give them the benefit of the duobt. If we make universal and spend 200 billion that twice as much on health care for 100 billion less. If anyone cannot understand the simplicity in that example you should not be in a forum .
Nick Jun 9th 2008 11:23AM
I don't understand the words left out and the misspellings. It makes it confusing to try and understand this message. Proofread, use spell check, at least please use something.
Jonah Nov 23rd 2009 10:09PM
Not all people speak english as a first language.
rich Jun 21st 2010 5:13AM
Even though there are miss spellings I think the message is clear .Please learn to understand the message that the greed of our country is the problem and no matter how it is spelled it's stiill a issue that need to be fixed right now not in years to come .
Nasty Feb 18th 2012 6:22PM
I agree Robert!!!!! I'm a self-employed professional immigrated to the USA 6 years ago. I have lived in Europe and Russia most of my life and can modestly suggest I've seen a lot of "both" worlds.
Jut now I had to look for the health insurances since I haven't been feeling so good lately. I searched through tons of sites that are supposed to help freelancers to get a fair quote and read enormous quantity of articles describing how to find a health insurance. I found a really interesting article by ADDY DUGDALE where the author explores the world of freelancers and their health insurance situation. To sum it up, freelancers DON'T have insurance, and they are afraid to have kids simply because they can't afford it! And it's not only freelancers! The more I ask around, the more people are not happy with the insurance they have because the insurance company doesn't want to cover anything and they fight for every penny!!! or people just don't have any insurance because it's too expensive!
The worst part comes when people who DO need the affordable option, who DON'T earn a lot, - people who work their asses off to support their kids and semi-ok living conditions, - those people are the ones who are against the socialized medicine! And the reason? Because they are not willing to pay for somebody else's bills/sicknesses, etc.... And here is where i loose my mind.
Seriously? You don't want to pay for anybody else?
Well, how about that right now you are paying for 1%'s vacations in France and Chanel bags? How about you are paying to the largest food companies for rubber crap you buy in the stores? How about your kids will never go to a good school and will never receive a good education? And how about that even if you have insurance right now and get a surgery OTHER people who have the same insurance are basically paying for it! But people just don't see a bigger picture and it's very frustrating! And how about the USA provides free Universal CAre in Afghanistan and Iraq!!! And guess who is paying for it!!!
Well, that is what civilization is all about! That is what a community is all about - it's trying to build a more sophisticated method of achieving the country's high standards instead of going back to medieval times and cut people's throats for a bucket of corn. People have just become so ignorant and selfish, trying to take advantage of everybody else and completely loosing common sense!
It's so much better and easier to get dumber, louder and live in a little cave screaming out phrases like "socialism is evil", "America is the best" and clinging to really cozy words that save their brain from exploding...
America is being killed by ignorant people..not by people who have an opinion!!!
My full gripe is here!!
http://www.gripebox.com/gripes/60#.T0Ax0lS-vpY.email
maria Feb 10th 2008 4:31PM
farrah fawcet has to go to germany to get treatment..in backward america she be dead already..germany has socialized medicine...ive lived in the usa since 10 years married a soldier...and as soon as he gets out we moving to europe...your infra structure is sad...more than half of america looks completly dilapadated..siemens bosch..daimler..countless german and japanese companys united arab emirates ..have bought everything you owned ...general elctric used to get your airports light up ..now siemens does it american workers are out of bussiness your schools do not produce sientists engeneers ..doctors.. that actually want to treat people ..the few you have want to be plastic surgeons..and all that because the top 2% trying to tell you dummies that you are just fine making 7.50 an hour while they are pocketing all the money ...the euro is 1.50...china owns you your unions are death ..and you still vote repuplican ....its funny....a german woman gets 2 years baby vacation...we have 6 weeks vacation and still hour companies make more profit.....why is that you think...america better wakes up quick
Legendary conflict May 2nd 2008 1:07AM
shut your face maria. don't disrespect United States. We are the strongest country in the world.... Stop disrespecting us. We gotta work on health care and we will. that doesn't give you the right.
Nick Jun 9th 2008 11:23AM
What doesn't give her the right? That's right, nothing. Free speech means free speech. If something is wrong, you speak up. How do you think change happens?
Rasecas Sep 23rd 2009 12:06AM
Maria is right ans we Americans need to wake up and smell the coffee. We need to demand "Free healthcare in America" if we want to call our Nation a Land of the free". FDA does not get paid by the Government and their funds come from Labs, Doctors, Pharmaceuticals and Insurance Companies. Genvec Labs discovered a cure for Cancer but; they were forced by the "Gang" to rest such case. DCA was discovered curing same illnesses in Canada but the "Gang" does not see money to be made out of it as the chemicals are cheap and they would loose patients and we became commodities. Farrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze and Kennedy among many did not need to die. Watching Frontline today "Sick around America" I saw how the "Gang" works. The documentary SICKO is completely reality. Not long ago I have a car accident and the Ambulance 5 minutes away from the Hospital was USD 750.00 and when I arrived at the Hospital waiting for almost 2 hours at the emergency room; I got maybe 4 stitches and the bill was almost USD 2,000.00 Perhaps the needle was made out of gold and the threats was made out of platinum and the bandage was made out of silk. LOL... Free Health care MEANS we pay the same amount from our checks to the Government and they regulate the "Gang" putting a stop to these issues in our Nation. Obama is trying to do it although; uninformed Americans with a narrow mind had the Tea Party accusing the Government of taking over. I am now applying to move overseas where I can have a life with dignity and peace of mind instead of being subject to these "Sharks". Before our Nation tries to clean somebody else's backyard because of the oil and Political agendas; we need to clean our own. I traveled worldwide and was received at the Immigration with a smile and barely no questions asked. When I came back Home; I was mistreated and saw how Officials treated Tourists and visitors. I was ashamed and sick just to see it. Last... The end of times is near as the Parable of the "Fig Tree" when Israel becomes a Nation in which were May 15th 1948 says: VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU; THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS... One generation is gone (40 years) and Israel celebrated their "Jubilee" in 2008 for the (60 years) now we only have to wait for the 70 years generation. We can not pray in schools anymore, people want to take the 10 commandments off the Courts and now they want to change the coins putting around in small letters "In God we trust" and not on the face of it. What is next? People... Be humbled and love one another instead of pointing fingers in a bad way. We are not perfect, Countries are not perfect, America is not perfect but IF we fear GOD trying to be better and stop these blood suckers we can get somewhere together. We are being corrupted by our own system and the way we receive Foreigners in our Nation must change because "we" Americans are going overseas to live as thousands with fixed income are there now receiving their retirement through U.S. Embassies so they may stretch the Dollar to make a reasonable living as they can not afford living here. Many Americans are living U.S.A. because of our system and working for multi National Companies overseas and receiving away better health care then in the U.S.A. for free. When we learn how to respect others and their cultures living in peace then; we can step up and say we are making a difference but nevertheless; It appears not to be the truth and soon we will ALL answer to GOD.
Bruce Nov 24th 2009 10:17PM
To the idiot that replied to you first:
Your country is dead; they gave up on it a while ago. Your role in the world is parasitic; you just suck other countries resources just like the Europeans were doing to their colonies. Your soldiers are dying to protect the interests of big corporations that gave up on you. You also use mercenaries to do your dirty job and by the way you also sponsor the bad guys, too. As for the Health system…corrupt just like the government. Big pharma controls it along the Insurance companies (banks). How sad to see this country going down the drain. You think the worst has passed? You have no idea. You people do not deserve the stuff you have, it is not yours, because you either stole it or borrowed money to get it. So shut up and pay your taxes!
brent May 20th 2010 2:36PM
I don't mind Maria speaking her mind, I don't consider it disrespect. However, she is completely misguided, the poor thing. Yeah, Europe is doing awesome! Just look at Greece, England, Portugal, etc.... their economies are going into the tank and not only dragging the Euro with it, but crashing the US stock market! Sorry Maria, your fantasy of socialized living being the way to go is nothing but a fantasy.
maria Feb 10th 2008 2:28PM
socialized medecine is not free...you will pay and your employer will pay ..the government will regulate certain things for insurance companies..they will not be able to denie actuall sick people ...that is all ....and everyone has to be in a health plan....dont let the 2 % tell you otherwise..they are just mad that they now have to provide a health plan arent able to opt out ...dont worrie they will still be rich as hell and the insurance companies will still be rich as hell...but average americans will not be stressed out to the max constantly...and you people should really think why some americans dont want you to have health insurance the must not care so much about their fellow americans ...and by the way there is no waiting time for any procedure in germany...so dont let them fool you again....the elite just likes to keep you dumb and suffering....
rasecas Sep 23rd 2009 3:53PM
Well said Maria...
Gadfly Jun 2nd 2011 1:37PM
Socialism does not work. It is front-end loaded. It works at the beginning since there is a financial base (capitalistic) to pay for the socialized giveaways. However, these societies begin to slide into unsustainable birth rates, because of their obsession with six weeks vacation; children are an impediment to pleasure. These societies also become immediate thinking and narcissistic. If there is a way to banner class warfare, socialist will do it; motto: "Let other productive people work so that the unproductive can milk the socialized system."
maria Feb 19th 2008 5:20PM
and please dont tell me now to go back to germany ..or learn more english and whatever else..stupid people usually come up with when calling them on their sneakieness.....i actually care about america we europeans used to look at america as this great place..and now we look at it as backward ...abusive and antisocial..i want the america of my child hood to come back when we felt it was the place to be ......
Debi Oct 13th 2009 2:31PM
Yes, Maria...I want our great USA back too. When it was a capitalist country. But now we've become a socialist country and let foriegners buy up our land and businesses. They control us now, not the American people. We are being distroyed from the inside. A doctor used to be affordable, then everyone wanted insurance (it's been our government regulations that has allowed the insurance companies and hospitals to charge horrific prices for little in return so they can then rescue us and reap the benefits) and now we think government run health care is the answer. America was founded on small government, low taxes. NOW 50+% of our money goes to taxes...how much more are they going to demand. We will not get FREE health care. It will all come at a cost. And what about a choice in our own care. And I'm sure we would give up a choice of care type or doctor. Is that the American way? I also think we are all entitled to eat. Should we all get the same food vouchers too? Since most want us to be like everyone else, we've become socialist and have lost our American way.
ben Feb 27th 2008 9:26PM
first of all, to the lady that wants to leave. america has a wonderful welfare system, just take a look at ur next paycheck to see how much the government is taking out to pay for the people who file bankrupcy. i work in a pharmacy and i see people driving up in their brand new cars wearing nice clothes and pick up their free meds. makes me sick. i bust my ass all through highschool, all through undergrad, and bustin my ass to get into pharmacy school so i can CHOOSE my healthcare and how i want MY money spent. the government does way too much as it is. people complain that we spend too much on the war. i think we spend way too much on personal things like healthcare, drug production, and other things that should be handled by doctors and not lawyers. i feel no pity for people who feel trapped. in america you can make yourself what you want, if you want to work for it.
now bring it on you leftwing demoncrats!
Erich Aug 8th 2008 3:38PM
I'll bring it on, foo. Jk... But you don't know the numbers. There's way more being spent on the war and not health care. You got to be ignorant to think they compare.
People as selfish as you are like anarchists. If it were up to people like you we'd be living in feudalism...
Rogelio Apr 1st 2009 12:13PM
To you, my dear friend Ben. I am one of those leftist that will bring it on. The facts are real simple, my friend. We feed the lower class citizens of the US fake dreams of glamour and material wealth. I think what you need to do is PAY MORE ATTENTION to details instead of just going by what you see. The corporate controlled media feeds you lies and the corporate controlled news is pretty much the wrecking crew. So, the next time you want to complain about some dude rolling in some nice car with fresh duds on, ask him how far in debt he is because of our "Great System" as you so call it.
Liberty_Bell Jan 28th 2011 4:23PM
Rogelio please use your brain, if you want the money of others to pay for your "free healthcare" just grow some balls and use a gun yourself to steal it instead of asking the state to do your dirty work for you........ and dont be so naive, by arguing that poor people dont need to think about improving their material conditions you are simply asking to return to a more primitive form of economic system.