The system of health care delivery in Canada has been used to criticize system in U. S health care reform plans. A major concern of the paper is to compare and contrast health care systems between U. S and Canada. Health care is a mandatory service provided by government to its citizens and the main concern of the service relates to cost, quality, assessment and continuity. The Canadian health care system is considered as a model for U. S health care reform plans. The two countries health care systems are very different as Canada has single-payer publicly funded system while U. S has multi-payer private system (Woolhandler S. Campbell, T. , Himmelstein, D. U, 2003).
The similarity between the two countries is observed in cultural practices and this means that U. S is likely to adopt Canadian system. In the case of accessibility, Canadians have never had problems with health care as the government has ensured all citizens enjoy universal health care. Every individual in Canada whether rich, poor or the middle class regardless of sex, race, age or creed are covered for Universal Health Care (Davis K. , et al, 2006). Canadians access medical treatment free of charge as all the medical bills, hospital visits and emergencies are covered. In U. S, the federal government does not guarantee universal health care to all its citizens.
However, publicly funded health care programs in U. S help the disabled, poor, children and elderly a similar observation in Canadian health care policy. Provision of health care is an expensive activity for both U. S and Canada as both countries spend more on health budget. However, citizens in Canada are covered from any form of illness whether minor or complicated and are never issued with medical bills (Lasser K. , E. , 2006). Canadian health care is free to all people and the money for paying hospital bills is paid by taxpayers.
The tax paid by Canadians is spread in a manner that allows citizens to have safe net salary for survival. It is distributed in a manner that protects every individual no matter the cost of health care. The reform law in America that was passed on March 21 provides medical cover to the elderly, disabled and children free of charge. This is similar to medical policies in Canada that has led to increased life expectancy level. The United States spends huge amounts of money per year to provide health services to uninsured people. U. S spends more on health care per capita than Canada and this is associated with differences in their demographics.
The quality of health care services in the two countries is explained in terms of outcome and satisfaction of patients. Americans are fully satisfied with health care services received and rank quality of health care as excellent. Canada on the other hand, has more equitable distribution of health care outcome and it is a measure of quality (Knickman James, 2004). This is made possible through the use of single-payer system with universal coverage. Correlation across Canadians in their income and personal health status as compared with that for U. S is actually prominent.
This means that the quality of health care in Canada is higher compared to that of United States of America. Health care system in Canada and U. S has elements of continuity, as it is a government project funded by taxpayer’s money. On the contrary, Canadian health care system has more chances of survival than American because it is fully established and has full support. The U. S health care bill passed recently may not survive future challenges as it driven by motive of profit other than considering the health of individuals.