Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership C489 Task 3
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Western Governors university
Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership C489
Task 3
Abdulai Samuel Sefoi
Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership C489 Task 3
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1A.
In this paper I am going to compare United States healthcare system to that of Germany
healthcare system.
2. Access
In comparing US healthcare system to that of Germany, several connections could be drawn as
well as differences that makes each healthcare system distinct. In the United States (U.S.), the
Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010 to increase access to quality and affordable care
through what was termed “shared responsibility” A concept that was conceived to bring together
government, employers and individuals for the sole aim of expanding access to high standard but
low-cost health insurance. It is safe to say that the U.S. insurance coverage remains disintegrated.
Data from the Commonwealth Fund estimates that about 55.7% of insurance coverage is
provided by employers, 14.6% through private pay and 37.1% accounts for public coverage;
Medicare 16.3%, Medicaid 19.6%. The employer mandate requires employers to provide health
insurance to their employees, while the individual mandate required individuals who work get
health insurance through the insurance marketplace if not through employment. Failure to do so
will result in penalty or fine. Subsidized or tax incentive state plans were developed to ensure
that low income individuals get help in getting health insurance. The uninsured rate dropped
from 9.1% to 8.6% after the ACA was enacted through the first quarter of 2016. People who are
65 years and older qualifies for Medicare. (
International Healthcare System Profile: The U.S.
Healthcare System). Despite the enactment of ACA, health insurance is yet to be comprehensive
and with the political fight to end both the individual and employer mandate, the future of
Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership C489 Task 3
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coverage for all is not clear. The ACA allows children stays on their parent’s insurance until they
are 26 years old. Medicare provides health insurance to those age 65 and older and the disabled.
(
Ridic, Gleason, & Ridic,. 2012). One key difference between Germans’ system to that of the
U.S. is that the cost of family insurance in U.S. is also determined by the size of the family.
Moreover, in the US, those without insurance seeks medical care from community clinics for
free or through a sliding fee. Others utilizes the emergency room, cost covered by the hospital or
the federal or state government.
On the other hand, Germany is taunted to have one of the most cost effective and
successful healthcare systems in the world. Germany has what it calls “sickness funds” which is
a compulsory contribution made by those who work and earn certain income. About 240
nonprofit insurance providers makes up the public options that covers 90% of Germans, while
the remaining 10% who are considered high income individuals get health insurance through
private and for-profit insurers. Germany does not have a fragmented system such as welfare,
