Comparing Health Care Systems in Canada/UK, USA and Switzerland to Assess the Direction of US Health Care Reform

Abstract

Along the payer continuum ranging from full
consolidation of payers to consumer-driven health care,
three competing models of health care systems are
identified in Canada/UK, USA and Switzerland
respectively. These three health care systems are
compared and contrasted along 10 analytical
dimensions. Trade-offs along three aspects of a health
care system, namely, (i) access to care, (ii) quality of
care, and (iii) cost of care, are discussed in each of the
three systems. Bureaucratic forces in Canada/UK,
competitive forces in USA and market forces in
Switzerland are noted as dominant. Several state-level
mini-reforms in the USA are noted with a view to
project the direction of future of US health care system.
The paper concludes with an inferential projection of
transforming forces impinging on the current US health
care system.