Health insurance and health care in general have been hot topics in the country for the last few years. With the new health care reform bill set to be implemented in the next few years, the controversy will likely continue to grow. The United States government has come under scrutiny recently because of a lack of government sponsored programs from one end, and the fact that there are too many of those programs in existence on the other. In the midst of the controversy, the cost to insure each person in the country has gone up dramatically and as a result, so has the cost for each individual and family to obtain health insurance. There are a number of factors that contribute to this rise in cost, and some have been taking a deep look at United States health insurance practices to see what can be done. Comparing health insurance rates with those of other countries is just one route the U.S. has taken to find any discrepancies.

Health Care in Canada

Many people have been comparing the United States health insurance practices with those of its neighbor, Canada. But comparing health insurance rates with Canada can be difficult and, at a level, unfair. The health care in Canada is run by the provisions set forth in the Canada Health Act. Essentially, Canada's health care system is a governmental, publicly-funded health care system. It is essentially free for all Canadian citizens at the time of use and covers all health care needs. Many of the entities that service the medical industry are private companies, but are paid for through government agencies.

Even though health insurance is free in Canada, it can sometimes be burdensome. Long wait times and sometimes insufficient medical equipment are available to service all patients, making doctor or hospital visits quite frustrating. Also, the insurance isn't entirely free; it is actually funded primarily through general taxation, which means people still pay for it, but it's hard to tell what the cost really is.

Health Care in England

England's health care system functions in much the same way as Canada's, by which the government essentially funds all health insurance. But unlike Canada, England does have private health insurance options for those willing to pay. These private agencies mostly cover specialists, while customers continue to use the government sponsored health insurance for all other services. Again, their insurance is paid for through taxation, and the amount that each individual pays is difficult to know. However, it seems that both Canadian and British citizens pay less for coverage than many U.S. citizens. This is why Barack Obama has established the Health Care Reform Act.