For this video report on health care abroad, NewsHour correspondent Ray Suarez is in the Netherlands, looking at how the Dutch pulled off a massive transformation of their own health care system in 2006.
In redesigning its national health care system, the Netherlands hoped to insure all citizens and increase competition between private insurers, all while keeping costs low. As part of the new policy, all Dutch citizens must purchase a basic insurance package of about $160 per month. Regardless of age or medical history, all insurance companies must offer the same rates to all customers with government subsidies offered to the poor.
Insurance companies could no longer compete by offering cheaper rates, so they compete over the quality of care.
In this video, Ray Suarez talks to government health officials, insurance executives and a family that has lived under health care systems in both the United States and the Netherlands.
Quotes
"Health care had to be accessible and affordable to everyone, but on the other hand, there had to be competition." - Dr. Abraham Klink, minister of health, Netherlands
"There can be no discrimination if you're ill or old or young. We have to accept everybody. And I think that is one of the big differences with the United States. We have a level playing field, and we have to compete. We have to do our best to have good prevention programs, to innovate." - Roger van Boxtel, insurance executive
"It's just that there is such a lot of big bureaucracy always, because drugs only are reimbursed in our new health care insurance system when they have been proved to be effective and also cost-effective...And from the patient's point of view, you're always in a hurry. If there is a new treatment for breast cancer, you want it tomorrow for all breast cancer patients in this country, and not within half a year." - Dr. Else Borst, Dutch Cancer Foundation
Warm Up Questions
1. What do you know about the Netherlands? What is their style of government called?
2. What is health care? How does it work in the U.S.?
Discussion Questions
1. What do you think about how the Netherlands reformed their health care system? Do you think they have done a good job?
2. Do you foresee any problems with their health care system? Explain your answer.
3. How do you think that health care system in the Netherlands compares to health care in the U.S.? Is it fair to compare two countries that are so different? Why or why not?
4. Many people are talking about how to reform health care in the United States, how would you do it?
Additional Resources
