Health care system performance rankings of 11 select countries 2021
According to a 2021 health care systems ranking among selected high-income countries, the U.S. came last in the overall ranking of its health care system performance. The overall ranking was based on five performance categories, including access to care, care processes, administrative efficiency, equity, and health care outcomes. Among the top ranked countries were Norway, the Netherlands, and Australia, while Switzerland, Canada, and the United States were among the lowest ranked.
Administrative efficiency and costs
Generally, in countries like Norway, Australia, and New Zealand, where a single-payer health system is in place, there is higher administrative efficiency and lower health administrative costs. The U.S. with its multi-payer system, on the other hand, generates extra bureaucratic tasks for both health care providers and the patients. In the U.S. an estimated 256 million U.S. dollars are wasted per year due to administrative complexity.
Equity
The United States, without universal health coverage, has expectedly large disparities in health care affordability based on income, as individuals with low income are often uninsured and must pay for all their health care out-of-pocket. These results are in line with the equity rankings of this report where the U.S. also came last. With the performance category equity, it is important to point out that the report focuses on income-related disparities. Other disparities based on ethnicity, gender, geography, and more have not been taken into consideration.
Administrative efficiency and costs
Generally, in countries like Norway, Australia, and New Zealand, where a single-payer health system is in place, there is higher administrative efficiency and lower health administrative costs. The U.S. with its multi-payer system, on the other hand, generates extra bureaucratic tasks for both health care providers and the patients. In the U.S. an estimated 256 million U.S. dollars are wasted per year due to administrative complexity.
Equity
The United States, without universal health coverage, has expectedly large disparities in health care affordability based on income, as individuals with low income are often uninsured and must pay for all their health care out-of-pocket. These results are in line with the equity rankings of this report where the U.S. also came last. With the performance category equity, it is important to point out that the report focuses on income-related disparities. Other disparities based on ethnicity, gender, geography, and more have not been taken into consideration.
