Sweden, Canada Outrank U.S. On Confidence In Health Care

While It remains to be seen whether or not the monumental health care legislation passed last month will dramatically alter Americans' feelings about their country's heath system, a new online poll from Ipsos/Reuters suggests that there is certainly room for improvement.

The poll found, perhaps unsurprisingly, that people living in countries with government-run health care, such as Sweden and Canada, were generally more confident about receiving good, affordable health care than are Americans. More than 70 percent of Swedes and Canadians surveyed said it would be easy to find quality care at a reasonable price if a family member became ill, compared to just 51 percent of Americans.

And yet the survey found that not all countries in which the government plays an active role in health care reported such high levels of confidence: Germans, for example, were actually less optimistic than Americans, while Brits were only slightly more optimistic than people in the U.S. In Japan, which has universal health care, a mere 15 percent felt positive about their chances of receiving quality affordable care.

The survey, which interviewed more than 23,000 people worldwide, was conducted between November 2009 and January 2010, and therefore Americans were responding before health care reform legislation had passed.

The slideshow below shows the percent of people surveyed in each country who felt that it would be easy "for a family member to get quality, affordable health care." You can see a full chart of the data here.

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The Best Health Care System

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

No Place To Get Ill Can Rest Assured

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Best Places For Health Care

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Comments

[jsgaetano]

10:41 AM on 05/17/2010

The US should be proud- we pay more for health care than every other country... but we're not even close to having the best health care.

[MidRoaderTurnedLeft]

08:08 PM on 05/16/2010

"We real Americans know that people in highly socialist countries like Canada are brainwashed about their health care. And those who aren't know they need to say nice things or the Death Squad will visit and vote thumbs down on continuing their coverage before kidnapping their children and burning their homes.

We have the best of everything right here in the USA. I am living proof."

S. Palin

[Vanessa Belle]

12:49 AM on 05/21/2010

Sarah Palin can't speak about something she doesn't have direct experience with.

She is not able to even speak coherently regarding her own country's politics and policies. She learned a few terms (i.e. Socialism) and has since them has thrown them around to describe anything that she or her party are not in agreement with.

How can she assess the quality of healthcare in Canada if she has never directly received Canadian medical care and treatment? It is rather difficult to ascertain how great another country's health care is without having lived in that country. Having said that Canada always comes out on top when it comes to health care. Canadians for the most part are happy with their health care, so that speaks for itself.

If anything, we Canadians are open and highly critical of everything even though we know that we have it good compared to other countries particulary when it comes to our health care and our educational system. We are unafraid to express our disastification. We don't subscribe to the paranoid mentality that her and her party suscribe to. So it is utterly hilarious to read her quote above!!

[HuffDave13]

04:12 PM on 05/27/2010

Sarah palin did have direct experience with the Canadian healthcare system. Believe it or not she was talking in good term about it. She is the one to acknowledge that she did cross the border during an appearance in Canada "We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada," It was once upon a time, when she had a little common sense left. Now it is all about money, politic and fame.

[HuffDave13]

04:15 PM on 05/27/2010

Following up to my first reply... I think MidRoad was doing sarcasm. I don't think she went that far at least publicly, but these are things the crazy could say.

[aero3232330]

01:55 AM on 05/15/2010

correction Canada doesn't have government run health care (aka like the NHS). They have government run health insurance (aka like Medicare). That most citizens are covered by. Just to note that.

[CJWebber]

07:39 PM on 05/16/2010

So true, but this has been said countless times to Americans. They still insist on calling it 'govt run health care'. It is pointless to say it again.

[Vanessa Belle]

11:58 AM on 05/14/2010

As a Canadian, I am very content with my healthcare for the most part. The only big issue that I and many other Canadians have is our emergency room waiting times at hospitals. Waiting times can be ridiculous if you are not your are not in dire health.

[CJWebber]

07:46 PM on 05/16/2010

True, I have waited for hours before. But the waits in hospital ER's are long everywhere, take a look at this link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15817906/

[Vanessa Belle]

10:12 PM on 05/17/2010

Thanks for the link.

It appears that long emergency waiting times are the norm almost everywhere. But it is good to see that some hospitals in the U.S. are doing something about it to rectify the problem.

I think that U.S. hospitals see their patients as their customers as well.
Therefore from what I have observed living in a border city is that they are much more competitive with other hospitals to provide the best product, that being the best healthcare in the most expedient manner.

We have to catch up in Canada. But I don't know if we ever will because of the way our health care system is run (i.e. the government calls the shots).

[cinemaven]

10:58 PM on 05/20/2010

But if you are in dire need, there is no waiting time.
My husband and I went to the emerg because he was having chest pains last year. He didn't really want to go because he felt like it might just be heartburn. Within minutes, he was in a bed and attached to a heart monitor which was fortunate because he actually had his heart attack right after he was attached. The speed and quality of care was amazing and he's doing great today.
My confidence in Canada's health care system is much higher now than it was when it was more of a concept than an experience for us.

[Vanessa Belle]

01:07 AM on 05/21/2010

Glad to hear that your husband received prompt care and that you had a good experience with our health care system

[worker beenumbed]

11:02 PM on 05/13/2010

The usa needs more auditors of claims by caregivers.Auditors recover much more than they cost.

[BigSlick674]

04:05 PM on 05/13/2010

What were the exact questions used?

Just the use of a poll to try to determine satisfaction levels represents cultural bias.

In Japan, a poll is basically a complaint forum.

[mikefina]

11:05 AM on 05/13/2010

There is enough in this mish-mash for EVERYONE to confirm their own biases.

[dragonmaster]

07:35 AM on 05/13/2010

Is this surprising?

Just about every modern western industrialized country outranks the USA for health care.

The USA maintains its 'idea' that health care is a privilege- a sort of subtle form of racism or 'Plantation Style Paternal' system that any civilized nation would be ashamed of.

But then again the USA still had slavery when most of the western European nations had outlawed it around the year 500- except our mother country (England) which outlawed the slave trade in 1787.

[PC Contrarian]

02:29 PM on 05/13/2010

Thanks for the education!
Wow, I had no idea I was black.

[David Hall 2]

06:45 PM on 05/12/2010

We are asked to rate the best of these healthcare systems without having partaken in them? That is STUPID.

[john frodo]

09:59 AM on 05/17/2010

It was designed for Repulicans, go with your gut, freedom to know everything without thinking. What are you some kind of elite?

[Peets101]

10:56 AM on 05/12/2010

HP: Sometimes the format used for this article is cumbersome and inappropriate. This is not a story that needs pictures. The pictures add nothing to the article. Just give us the information without all the click-through nonsense. Save this format for a fashion show or some other story that requires pictures.

[ckinsobe]

03:37 PM on 05/12/2010

Agreed! I find the whole photo/voting format really tedious...I do not require that level of interaction and often when I see a headline has the Photo option marked I don't even bother clicking.

[rbryanh]

01:27 AM on 05/12/2010

"... were generally more confident about receiving good, affordable health care than are Americans."

Forgive me, but people's confidence is often anything but reflective of facts. Yes, American health care sucks, but can we stick to quantifiable facts and not confuse them with how "happy" people are or aren't?

Seriously, folks... a large percentage of Americans believe we have the highest standard of living on earth, won the Vietnam war, and that Jesus will return to earth in their lifetime. What does public opinion really measure in a society that can't find its butt on a map, and believes history is what they read in last week's People magazine?

[Peets101]

10:59 AM on 05/12/2010

There are other articles which include quantifiable facts like longevity, time in the hospital, infant mortality, etc. Some people respond to them and some don't. Some prefer articles about how "happy" people are. Both are useful. W.H.O. has the dry data.

[ziger123]

10:10 PM on 05/11/2010

During the healthcare debate there were plenty of studies about other countries and their healthcare system. Most were happier than the US.
Canada - a dear friend is a cancer survivor who has not wait but one week in getting her biopsies, etc. She was scheduled for surgery within 3 weeks. She's near Quebec and has been happy with her healthcare. In the US, uninsured would pay thousands for the same thing that's "paid for" by taxes in Canada. You do the math - it's about where the money to pay for it comes from and we're still paying for it.

[wolf2012]

03:47 PM on 05/10/2010

The fact that Germans are less optimistic has to do with their mentality - not the actual situation concerning their health care system. Germany reportedly has one of the very best health care systems in the world (only recently ranked as second after France). On the other hand, Americans seem delusional about the reality of their health care system ... it's a complete utter joke. All in all, this poll doesn't say anything .... and would change dramatically if we all got to visit other countries and get an idea ourselves.

[c1ee]

10:22 AM on 05/11/2010

Kudos

[mw21]

12:57 PM on 05/10/2010

Medicare with 1-2% overhead and 98% favorable rating among patients.
Private insurance with 35% overhead and 25% favorable rating among patients.
But...
Doctors can't afford to treat Medicare patients.
Yet...
majority of doctors want a single payer system.
We all know...
Private insurance exists to pay profits to large stock holders and executives large alaries.
So...
Overhaul the system of single payer. Make Medicare payouts reasonable for Doctors and cut out the insurance executives with their enormous salaries. That 35% overhead should tell us all that the insurance industry serves no purpose but to take our money for their own purpose. It has nothing to do whatsoever with health care delivery.

But there would have to be the will to do the right thing and I just don't think it exists.

[fromdnorth]

06:01 PM on 05/09/2010

My friend ^65, was diagnosed with colon cancer after a check-up and the insertion of a pooper-snooper, a biopsy and operation. He had to wear a bag and not eat too much or fruit but he did and his stiches burst and so they had to go back in , clean him up, and sew him back again... he has since healed and does not need a bag and all is well... Cost $0 (if you exclude the cost of driving to the hospital etc...

He holidays in Florida, and this year, a friend was diagnosed with an brain anurism (sp). It was the day before the operation the insurance co said OK, but will not pay for follow-ups etc... She is worried..

We pay taxes but out per-capita costs are less than yours and we are happy...

Unless masochism is part of your national psyche, you need help if you feel you are better off with choice (which is none in actual fact)...

Since we do not have to pay profits and salaries of insurance execs, we save 30% off the top...

[malakia2966]

09:23 PM on 05/09/2010

Canada:
43.59% Over $100,000.00 (28% Fed, 15.59% Provincial (avg))

US:
34.18% Total Tax (28% Fed tax 6.18% avg state income tax)
8 States have NO state income tax
7 have a Flat rate < 5%
6.18% Avg Income tax rate of 42 states, using their HIGHEST tax bracket

Then provinces have separate Health Taxes, in Ontario it is $700.00 over income of $60,000.000

So...Americans, don't let yourself be fooled, We ALL pay for health care in this country, it is forced upon us and we suffer with wait times and ramming drugs into us before surgery to resolve the issue.

The ONLY people who espouse the value of the Canadian system are generally those who haven't lived it.

I am 36 and thanks to a genetic condition (Hypotrophic Cardio Myopathy) have lived in the Canadian system, 2.5 years to get the surgery needed. By the end it took 3 sprays of Nitro before I could breath again, walk down the hall, and forget about a staircase.

I was NOT rural, I lived in Toronto (Provincial Capital) then Ottawa (Country Capital)

I am not comparing the two, I am just telling you all, that our system IS NOT FREE. Almost 10% more in income taxes and hundreds of dollars in specific Health tax (outside of Income tax). Oh yeah, how about 13% sales tax (8% provincial and 5% federal).

Please!!!

[fromdnorth]

12:22 AM on 05/10/2010

Again you give a "C" student answer...

Please Sir: Include the premiums the US resident pays, their deductible, co-pays and uninsured services and rework your figures...
Short of that you answer is misleading and incomplete...

..and while you are at it, listen to 3 canal - salt...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPYs_3DrEA8

[watchingfromafar]

01:14 PM on 05/12/2010

How long would it have taken you to get treatment in the U.S.A. if you didn't have the cash to pay for it and didn't have a house to sell in a hurry?

While comparing the two systems, did you factor in the costs to society, financial and otherwise, of those who have been financially ruined because they were unfortunate enough to get sick or have an accident?

You say "The ONLY people who espouse the value of the Canadian system are generally those who haven't lived it."

Well, I live in Toronto too, and I have two brothers who are alive today because of immediate treatment, one for an especially fast-moving and usually fatal cancer, and the other for a heart attack. They didn't complain about having their treatment "forced" on them, or having life-saving drugs "rammed" into them. They were just glad to be alive, under the best of care, and not having a heart attack over the bill. Another brother was diagnosed with a serious heart problem last week during a routine check-up, and was enjoying life-saving treatment the same day.