As the United States continues to avoid the push for change, there are many other countries that have implemented universal or national health coverage. One of those countries is Denmark, where national health care was implemented since 1973. In comparison to the United States, Denmark spends less by providing national health coverage that is partially covered by taxes paid by the public. In 2017, in the United States, out-of-pocket costs were $1,125 per capita, while in Denmark it was $690 of out-of-pocket costs per capita[5]. In their system, Danes have two options given to them, one which covers almost all health care costs and one that provides access to specialty clinics but requires copays. Even with copays, the spending is still less than what Americans are paying for health care.
Because health care is unattainable for about 27 million Americans[6], they’re unable to seek preventative care which leads to minor health issues becoming severe or even chronic health issues. The importance of preventative care such as physician check-ups, x-rays, tests, and screenings is not taken into consideration with the current health care system in the United States. For example, someone who works part-time without benefits cannot afford to pay for private healthcare. If this person is injured or feeling ill, they will likely avoid seeking treatment because the costs are outrageous. The effect of avoiding care can often lead to serious illness which for many can mean a visit to the emergency room. In 2017, the average cost of an emergency room was $1,138 which is 176% more than it was 10 years prior [7]. For someone who is unemployed or underemployed, this isn’t feasible. The costs pile up leading to issues such as medical bankruptcy.
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