TITLE:
Effect of Healthcare Systems on Inequality in the UK and the US
AUTHORS:
Jas Virk, David Holmes
KEYWORDS:
Inequality, Healthcare, UK, US, Poverty
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.11,
October
12,
2022
ABSTRACT: Objective: Healthcare systems vary among
nations. From public/private partnerships to national systems, quality and
equality varies. The purpose of this review is to analyze the effect that the
National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK) has on inequality in
comparison to the mixed healthcare model in the US. Materials/Methods: A
review was completed using the University at Buffalo catalog and database
search. A general Google search for articles regarding US healthcare costs was
also done. Pubmed was also utilized. Results: The UK national healthcare
system correlates with decreased inequality among all groups, while the US
healthcare system exacerbates inequality. By strengthening the primary care
system, the NHS has been able to efficiently care for the large majority of the
UK population. The effectiveness of the NHS can also be traced to the fact that
it is available to all citizens and therefore
allows citizens to get care without being burdened by cost of services.
The NHS was also associated with better overall performance and equity compared
to the US system. While the US has made some advances in reducing healthcare inequality,
medical debt and inequity in care remains a large burden for the healthcare
system. The Gini index in the US before and after
consideration of medical expenses remains higher than the UK and these medical expenses have also pushed citizens into
poverty. Conclusion: Addressing inequality necessitates analyzing
how a nation’s healthcare system impacts the poor. A more centralized system
that scales costs in coordination with income and a progressive tax system could
help prevent and keep people from going into poverty. The UK national
healthcare system has made strides in reducing inequality and providing
effective care for the population, while overreliance on employer-dependent
private insurance in the US can overburden those with lower incomes. While the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
has reduced the number of people who are uninsured, it has done little
to reduce inequality.