systems in your country and around the  world? Here’s what you need to know.

There are four main global healthcare models, each  with varying degrees of government involvement.

In the Beveridge Model, found in Great Britain,  

the government funds healthcare and there  is public delivery of care. The physicians,  

hospitals, and clinics are all  government-owned and regulated.

In the National Health Insurance Model, found  in Canada, the government also funds healthcare;  

however, there is private delivery of care.  The physicians, hospitals, and clinics are all  

a part of the private sector and have greater  freedom to practice without government input.

In both systems, there is universal  coverage, meaning every citizen is  

financially backed by an insurer with  little out-of-pocket cost for healthcare.

Next is the Private-Payer Model. Citizens  are responsible for paying for their medical  

care with no external coverage. This is  often found in poorer countries that can’t  

afford mass healthcare. As such, medical care  often becomes reserved only for the wealthy.

Last is the Bismarck model, which the  German healthcare system is derived  

from. Private insurance companies provide  coverage and citizens dedicate a portion  

of their payroll tax to remain insured. In this  model, the delivery of care is mostly private.

Most countries, including the US,  are hybrids of these four models.