Lawmakers in the United States spent the past few months trying and failing to roll back some health-insurance requirements, but much of the rest of the world has been living under universal healthcare for decades. Nearly all developed nations provide insurance or require their citizens to buy a policy.
But how those programs work and how much people pay varies widely. In some cases, patients would leave the hospital with no bill at all. In others, they'd owe lots of money.
Business Insider has 14 editions around the world, so we asked our international colleagues what would happen if they were to break an arm in their countries.
Here's what they told us.
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Sweden: Government insurance with a private boost
Where would you go?
The main option is urgent care at a regional hospital, which is run and funded by the county council. (There are 20 in Sweden.)
You can also go to a local emergency unit, also known as a walk-in center, for which there are both private (for-profit) and public (nonprofit) options. Doctor's offices and primary care units do not provide urgent care.
How long would it take to get there and to get treatment once you're there?
Most Swedes live within an hour's drive from the nearest hospital or local emergency unit. You can call the emergency number 112 to get an ambulance to remote locations. Once you've checked in, urgent care at a hospital usually takes four to six hours in all, depending on severity. Local emergency units are faster and provide care within a couple of hours.
How much would the broken arm cost you? How much would it cost you if you didn't have insurance?
All emergency healthcare in Sweden is funded by the government (i.e., the county council). The patient will need to pay $35 to $45 for a hospital emergency-clinic visit. If they have If P&C insurance, this fee could be covered afterward. The Swedish — and Nordic — principle of equal healthcare access for all means you can't pay extra to get preferential treatment.
How does your insurance work? Do you pay for it? Do you get it from your employer, the government, or somewhere else?
All Swedish residents, including expats, are covered by a government-funded universal healthcare insurance. Employers and labor unions may offer private group insurance, but these will generally not cover urgent cases such as fractures.
Some 650,000 out of 10 million Swedes currently have private healthcare insurance — a number that is likely to increase because of a shortage of nurses and other skilled medical staff.
A patient can freely choose between public and private primary healthcare providers, as far as local capacity permits. This policy has resulted in a steady increase in the amount of private healthcare options in Sweden. Healthcare in Sweden is decentralized to local county councils and municipalities. About 90% of the work of Swedish county councils concerns healthcare, but they also deal with other areas such as culture and infrastructure.
— Tom Turula, BI Nordic
Italy: No cost at the hospital
Where would you go?
If I were to break my arm, I would go to a public hospital.
How long would it take to get there and to get treatment once you're there?
It depends on the seriousness — on average, for such an accident, within a day.
How much would the broken arm cost you? How much would it cost you if you didn't have insurance?
I would pay zero.
How does your insurance work? Do you pay for it? Do you get it from your employer, the government, or somewhere else?
In Italy, you don't need to have insurance. Some employers — for example, journalists — have special insurances that enable them to go to private hospitals, but that's something more, an additional option. Because if you break an arm, you can go to a public structure and obtain there everything you need.
— Carlotta Scozzari, BI Italy
United Kingdom: Fully government-run health service
Where would you go?
I would go to the National Health Service's A&E (accident and emergency) department, which is funded by the British government.
How long would it take to get there and to get treatment once you're there?
In London, there would generally be one that is accessible. The waiting times can vary. It could be hours.
How much would the broken arm cost you? How much would it cost you if you didn't have insurance?
The medical care would have no cost. It's funded by taxpayers through an NHS tax.
How does your insurance work? Do you pay for it? Do you get it from your employer, the government, or somewhere else?
Employers can provide supplementary private medical insurance. You may be taxed at a higher rate by signing up for private health insurance. You generally have to visit an NHS general practitioner before your private health insurance will approve a private visit. Each treatment/office visit is assessed individually by your insurer.
— Dina Spector, Business Insider UK
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