Socialized healthcare isn’t a new concept. We’ll discuss the idea and look at countries with universal healthcare systems.

It has been around for quite a while and is practiced in certain countries. This refers to providing medical and hospital care for all using public funds.

This is interesting for persons hearing about this for the first time.

To be clear, socialized medicine means that a government provides all aspects of health care.

As a health system funded by taxes, it means that persons in countries with socialized medicine have to pay higher taxes than those without it.

What Countries have Socialized Medicine?

The goal is to provide information on countries practicing socialized medicine in part or entirely.

In some of these countries, you’ll discover varying degrees of socialized medical care where citizens either receive free medical care or pay some percentage of the fee.

  • What is Socialized Medicine?

As earlier stated, socialized medicine is tax-funded with benefits that include free or partially free (low-cost) health services.

Primarily, under socialized medicine, patients only get to pay for elective procedures such as cosmetic surgery.

So, is socialized medicine the same as universal healthcare and single-payer systems? This is a common misconception due to similarities that exist.

However, there are key differences that exist. In the case of universal healthcare, access to primary healthcare is guaranteed to all citizens of a country.

There’s a mixture of public and private coverage for such care rather than solely government coverage as obtainable in socialized medicine.

What more? Medical institutions offering universal healthcare are privately owned, which differs from socialized care, where the government owns these facilities.

Also, socialized healthcare differs from single-payer systems in that healthcare facilities and providers are privately owned.

The only similarity is that the government pays or funds the systems.

11 Countries With Socialized Medicine

When it comes to socialized medicine, there are several examples of success stories.

Some of the most notable ones include Israel, Germany, Austria, Norway, Japan, France, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, Cuba, and Mexico.

While more countries still have socialized healthcare systems, we’ll be focusing on only a few of these. Also, you’ll learn that socialized medicine is offered fully or partially.

With that said, let’s discuss this type of healthcare practiced in some of these countries.

i. Socialized Medicine in Israel

Socialized medicine in Israel began to take off in 1948.

This type of healthcare mandates all employers to participate. They contribute to the healthcare insurance plans of their employees.

Over the years, the state of Israel has reviewed its socialized medicine to make it more effective and inclusive.

A national health insurance law was passed in 1995 to cover the entire population. The challenge to its socialized medicine has been the shortage of doctors.

This has led to the development of incentive programs to encourage Jewish doctors to return to Israel for work.

ii. Socialized Medicine in Germany

This is another excellent example of a country with socialized medicine. These are provided in various forms, including accident insurance, health insurance, and old age/disability benefits.

Over the years, deliberate efforts have been made by the government to keep their medicine affordable and accessible.

iii. Socialized Medicine in Austria

Not only does Austria’s socialized medicine cover its citizens, but it also goes as far as accommodating EU citizens residing in the country.

This system (socialized medicine) was launched in 1956 as the General Social Insurance Law. Several reforms have since been made to make it more effective.

iv. Socialized Medicine in Norway

Norway is another country with socialized medicine. This plan covers all residents under the age of 16. The devastation caused by the Second World War led to the adoption of socialized medicine.

Like most socialized healthcare systems, a series of adjustments have been made to make the system more efficient.

v. Socialized Medicine in Japan

Japan operates partially socialized medicine, where healthcare costs are split between the government and citizens. The state covers about 70% of the charges, while citizens cover 30%.

The healthcare system in this country operates as a non-profit where they’re required by law to provide medical care to people in need.

vi. Socialized Medicine in France

France has one of the world’s best healthcare systems and practices a lesser form of socialized medicine compared to other countries.

Its non-profit national health insurance system offers mandatory coverage for everyone who has stayed in the country for more than three months.

vii. Socialized Medicine in Canada

Similar to France, the socialized medicine practiced in Canada isn’t total. Here, healthcare providers bill the government insurance plan for patient services.

Citizens only get to purchase private insurance for services not covered by the government plan. There is a list of services in this category.

viii. Socialized Medicine in Italy

Italy has socialized healthcare which is primarily financed by corporate taxes as well as value-added taxes. It has one of the best healthcare systems in the world.

Italy’s privately owned healthcare providers bill the national health system for services offered to citizens.

ix. Socialized Medicine in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom also practices socialized medicine.

Taxes primarily finance this, with the government being the employer of almost all healthcare professionals. Its National Health Service (NHS) offers free prescriptions and healthcare services.

x. Socialized Medicine in Cuba

As a developing country, Cuba also practices socialized medicine.

Its system has been successful, drawing the attention of bodies like the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the American Organization of Nurse Executives to study their systems and exchange ideas.

xi. Socialized Medicine in Mexico

This is another country with socialized healthcare, which hasn’t been as successful as those practiced in some countries mentioned above.

There have been mixed results in terms of efficiency within the system. There are also options for private health care for those having the financial means.

These are some of the countries with socialized medicine. We’ve seen that overall, this type of healthcare has proven to be efficient in catering to the health needs of countries.

However, a systematic review is needed to identify and correct hitches to make the system more efficient.