Policy discussion Publicly funded health care

many countries seeking right balance of public , private insurance, public subsidies, , out-of-pocket payments.

many oecd countries have implemented reforms achieve policy goals of ensuring access health care, improving quality of health care , health outcomes, allocating appropriate level of public sector other resources healthcare @ same time ensuring services provided in cost-efficient , cost-effective manner (microeconomic efficiency). range of measures, such better payment methods, have improved microeconomic incentives facing providers. however, introducing improved incentives through more competitive environment among providers , insurers has proved difficult.

a 2009 harvard study published in american journal of public health found more 44,800 excess deaths annually in united states because of americans lacking health insurance, equivalent 1 excess death every 12 min. more broadly, total number of people in united states, whether insured or uninsured, die because of lack of medical care estimated in 1997 analysis 100,000 per year.