Difference in the Health Care Systems of the USA and Germany Research Paper

Difference in the Health Care Systems of the USA and Germany - Research Paper Example The combined health care system is the basis of the US healthcare system where both the private and public sectors play a significant role to present a convenient and superlative health care system. In most of the cases, there can be found an apparent authority of public element over the private element. A report says that in 2010, more than 64% of the US population got the private health insurance which means nearly 195.9 million people were covered by this sector. In the year 2011, the percentage of privately insured people was 63.9%. However, in the USA, there are two health care programmes, Medicare and Medicaid, which are supervised by the US federal Department of Health and Human Services. People over 65 years and above get Medicare service whereas Medicaid is a system that offers financial help to the poor. These systems cover nearly 87 million Americans. On the other hand, the act, Health Care Reform Provisions, which is known as Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H. R. 3590)   was passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the U.S. President Barack Obama. The bill was passed on Sunday, March 21 and signed by the President on Tuesday, March 23. The bill, which is regarded as a comprehensive health care reform bill, was formally passed by the Senate on December 24, 2009.  Medicare benefits are provided through traditional fee-for-service handled by the federal government. In 2004, the US government spent $297 billion provided to support 42   million  Medicare beneficiaries. This system covers the people of 65 years of age and above. It includes payroll taxes, general revenue,   premium contributions and taxation of social safety benefits. Payroll taxes have been paid by most of the beneficiaries of standard Medicare during their working period to ensure their participation in Medicare  hospitalization programme.