Alternatively, although I am sure this is far from being complete and is less authoritative, here are some basic points I picked up during health care debates in my time as an undergrad student:
Canada (National Health Insurance Model)- Its method is arguably centre-left and typical of social liberalism
- Average waiting times don’t seem markedly longer than in the States
- State price bargaining lowers the cost of treatments but hinders R&D
- Physicians have more time for patients yet less for each, individually
- Administrative costs and complexity are much lower than in the U.S.
- Queues are not always first come, first serve
- One is basically stuck with using this system
France (Mixed / Bismarck Model)See
Antonio’s post for a basic breakdown of the system.
Germany (Bismarck Model)- Its approach is more or less centrist and typical of ordoliberalism
- Numerous private, but non-profit health insurers / sickness funds dominate the market
- Insurers compete yet are regulated to avoid unjust discrimination
- Funds redistributed from sickness funds with the healthiest folk to those with the least
- Patients inefficiently use up hospital beds for almost twice as many days as in the U.S.
- Health care costs per capita are markedly higher than in the U.K.
- Opting out is a choice but very few people actually want to do so
United Kingdom (Beveridge/NHS/Whatever Model)- Its method is arguably left-of-centre and typical of social democracy or socialism
- Health care costs per capita are 60% lower than in the U.S.
- New and/or expensive tests and treatments get rationed for budgetary reasons
- Physicians have more time for patients yet less for each, individually
- Use of resources benefits the young and those with minor ailments
- Yet olds and sufferers of dire ills often get the short end of the stick
- Quality of care can greatly vary by location (i.e. the NHS is a “postcode lottery”)
United States (Mixed / Out-of-Pocket Model)- Its method is right-of-centre and vaguely reminiscent of low-GDP countries
- Private insurers compete in a regulated market; patients buy what they want
- People have very low rates of mortality from many treatable diseases
- Physicians have less time for patients yet more for each, individually
- Administrative costs are high and interactions with insurers complex
- Costs are rising but at rates somewhat similar to in other high-GDP countries
- The VHA offers its best quality of care yet uses the Beveridge/NHS/Whatever Model