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HCA - 255
U.S. Health Care System Compared to Japan
When comparing healthcare systems on an international level it is easy to see the
differences. One nation in particular has a fairly similar system when compared to the United
States system under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but vastly different outcomes. This
country is Japan. This paper will compare and contrast the US health system under the ACA to
Japan’s Social Insurance plan.
The US system is a complicated one. Americans are insured either through their
employers, the government, or now after the passage of the ACA, through private individual
insurance available through federal or state-run healthcare exchanges. The government provides
insurance to military veterans through the Veterans Administration; as system of hospitals across
the country which cater exclusively to retired military personnel.The US government also
provides insurance to those who might otherwise be uninsured through programs such as
Medicaid, and Medicare.Medicaid being for those who are unemployed and meet state poverty
levels. Medicare being for those who are medically disabled and the elderly. Employers with 50
or more employees are required toprovide insurance to their work force. Most of the time the
employer pays part, or all, of the premium (Hicks, 2014, p. 273). With the passage of the ACA
Americans can now shop for medical insurance in federal or state-run healthcare exchanges,
where, if the consumer meets a percentage of the poverty line, premiums may be government
subsidized.
HCA - 255
U.S. Health Care System Compared to Japan
When comparing healthcare systems on an international level it is easy to see the
differences. One nation in particular has a fairly similar system when compared to the United
States system under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but vastly different outcomes. This
country is Japan. This paper will compare and contrast the US health system under the ACA to
Japan’s Social Insurance plan.
The US system is a complicated one. Americans are insured either through their
employers, the government, or now after the passage of the ACA, through private individual
insurance available through federal or state-run healthcare exchanges. The government provides
insurance to military veterans through the Veterans Administration; as system of hospitals across
the country which cater exclusively to retired military personnel.The US government also
provides insurance to those who might otherwise be uninsured through programs such as
Medicaid, and Medicare.Medicaid being for those who are unemployed and meet state poverty
levels. Medicare being for those who are medically disabled and the elderly. Employers with 50
or more employees are required toprovide insurance to their work force. Most of the time the
employer pays part, or all, of the premium (Hicks, 2014, p. 273). With the passage of the ACA
Americans can now shop for medical insurance in federal or state-run healthcare exchanges,
where, if the consumer meets a percentage of the poverty line, premiums may be government
subsidized.
