The US spends more on healthcare than any other country, reaching $2.7 trillion in 2011 or $8,680 per person, while UK spending was 142.8 billion pounds or 9.4% of GDP. In the US, most receive insurance through employers or private purchase, while 31% use public insurance and 16% are uninsured. In contrast, UK citizens receive universal public healthcare through taxation. While the US spends more, it has lower life expectancy and poorer health outcomes than other wealthy nations, including the UK which was rated as having the most efficient and cost-effective system. The data shows clear differences between the privately-run US system and the government-run UK system.

1. Comparing and Contrasting the US and
UK Healthcare Systems regarding Cost
and Effectiveness
By James Rosen

2. Healthcare Spending - US

The most recent data shows that the
U.S. healthcare spending reached $2.7
trillion dollars in 2011, or $8,680 per
person. Health spending grew 3.9% in
2011, the same rate as 2009 and 2010.
Health spending as a share of GDP has
remained stable from 2009 through 2011
at 17.9%

3. Chart on US Healthcare Spending

4. Healthcare Spending - UK

The total expenditure on healthcare in
the UK for 2011 was 142.8 billion
pounds. This was a small increase from
140.1 in 2010. In 2011, healthcare
expenditure was 9.4% of GDP, which fell
from 9.9% in 2010.

5. Chart on UK Healthcare
Spending

6. Paying for Healthcare in the US

In the US, health care facilities are
owned and operated by private sector
businesses. Most of the population
under 67 has health insurance from their
or a family members employer. Health
insurance is a program that helps pay
medical expenses.

7. Paying for Healthcare in the US

According to the US Census Bureau,
roughly 55% of Americans obtain
insurance through an employer, while
about 10% purchase it directly. 31% of
Americans were enrolled in a public
health insurance program.
Approximately 16% of Americans are
uninsured as of 2010.

8. Paying for Healthcare in the UK

In the UK, healthcare is facilitated by the
government through the NHS (National
Health Service). All UK permanent
residents receive public healthcare that
is free at the point of need. It is paid for
with general taxation. The only out of
pocket expense is copayment for
outpatient prescriptions and dentistry.

9. US v UK Healthcare
Spending

10. Healthcare Outcomes - US

The average lift expectancy in the US is
78.4 years. That ranks 50th among 221
nations. Of 17 high income countries
studied by the National Institutes of
Health in 2013, the US had the highest
prevalence of infant mortality, heart and
lung disease, sexually transmitted
infections, and disability.

11. Life Expectancy
Comparison

12. Healthcare Outcomes - UK

Life expectancy in the UK is 80.75
years. In a comparison with 6 other
wealthy countries (Australia, Canada,
Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand
and the USA) the NHS was rated as the
best healthcare system in terms of
efficiency, effective care, and costrelated problems.

13. 7 Country Comparison
Chart

14. Government v Private

You have seen the differences between
a government run healthcare system
(UK) and one that is privatized and run
like a for-profit business (US). I really
do not see a lot of similarities. The
differences are clear from the data
provided, you can come to your own
conclusions.

15. Works Cited




Harrison, Anthony, “The English Health Care System, 2012”,
The Commonwealth Fund, web, 21, Nov. 2013
Health insurance in the United States, Wikipedia, 16, Nov.
2013, web, 21, Nov. 2013
Key statistics on the NHS, NHS Confederation, May 2013,
web, 21, Nov. 2013
National Health Expenditures 2011 Highlights, Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, web, 21, Nov. 2013