How laid-off Americans may ‘fall through the cracks’ of the health care system during COVID-19 By Courtney Vinopal
Series First Aired: Aug 31, 2020 Amid the election-year debate over the future of health care in America, the PBS NewsHour explores the state of the U.S. health care system and how it compares to others worldwide. United States Houston, Texas, represents the two poles of health care in America — a hub of medical innovation and cutting-edge clinical care, alongside millions of uninsured Americans suffering from treatable, preventable diseases. WATCH: Is U.S. health care the best or ‘least effective’ system in the modern world? QUIZ: What does health care cost around the world? How does the U.S. stack up to the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Australia in terms of health care prices? Take this quiz to see for yourself. POLL: COVID-19 has eroded confidence in the U.S. health care system Since the pandemic began, more than a third of Americans — 35 percent — feel their health care system is below average worldwide. That’s up from 25 percent in February. United Kingdom The United Kingdom is home to the beloved National Health Service, a single-payer system paid for by taxes that covers everyone, but which also leaves some non-critical patients waiting for care. WATCH: Should U.S. look to UK’s single-payer National Health Service for next health care moves? Switzerland Switzerland is often held up as a model for American health care: everyone in the country is covered by a network of competitive private insurance plans. Premiums are expensive, but care is top-tier. And polls show the Swiss love their system. WATCH: How Switzerland delivered health care for all — and kept its private insurance Australia Australia has created a successful “hybrid” model: a robust, public system of taxpayer funded health care overlaid with a private insurance market. While younger people are moving away from private insurance, the overall system still achieves universal care and exceptional outcomes. WATCH: What the U.S. can learn from Australia’s hybrid health care system Canada When people debate how to fix the broken U.S. system, Canada invariably comes up. Born out of need in a time of economic crisis, Canadian Medicare ensures that if residents receive any form of hospital care, they’re billed nothing. READ MORE: How Canada got universal health care and what the U.S. could learn Support provided by: The Best Health Care? America & the World Videos Aug 31 Watch 12:23 Is U.S. health care the best or ‘least effective’ system in the modern world? By William Brangham, Jason Kane Sep 03 Watch 8:17 What the U.S. can learn from Australia’s hybrid health care system By William Brangham, Jason Kane Sep 02 Watch 9:42 How Switzerland delivered health care for all — and kept its private insurance By William Brangham, Jason Kane Sep 01 Watch 9:20 Should U.S. look to UK’s single-payer National Health Service for next health care moves? By William Brangham, Jason Kane Sep 04 Watch 6:20 What universal health care means during a pandemic By William Brangham, Jason Kane Sep 08 Watch 13:14 With health care a top issue for voters, what do Biden and Trump propose? Aug 31 Watch 1:00 Preview: The Best Health Care? America & the World By PBS NewsHour Go Deeper Aug 31 Quiz: What does health care cost around the world? By Laura Santhanam Sep 01 COVID-19 has eroded confidence in the U.S. health care system By Laura Santhanam Aug 31 How Canada got universal health care and what the U.S. could learn By Laura Santhanam Jul 22 How laid-off Americans may ‘fall through the cracks’ of the health care system during COVID-19 By Courtney Vinopal Apr 27 Watch 5:50 Health care in rural America was already fragile. Can it survive COVID-19?
Aug 31 Watch 12:23 Is U.S. health care the best or ‘least effective’ system in the modern world? By William Brangham, Jason Kane
Sep 03 Watch 8:17 What the U.S. can learn from Australia’s hybrid health care system By William Brangham, Jason Kane
Sep 02 Watch 9:42 How Switzerland delivered health care for all — and kept its private insurance By William Brangham, Jason Kane
Sep 01 Watch 9:20 Should U.S. look to UK’s single-payer National Health Service for next health care moves? By William Brangham, Jason Kane
Jul 22 How laid-off Americans may ‘fall through the cracks’ of the health care system during COVID-19 By Courtney Vinopal