Who Has The Best Health Care System? A Second Look

Abstract

A 1994 opinion survey again shows Americans less satisfied with their health care system than Canadians and (West) Germans are with theirs. Americans also report more problems in paying for care and receiving needed services. However, overall satisfaction in Canada and Germany has fallen. Important cultural differences between the countries were identified. Americans have higher expectations for medicine and a stronger preference for spending more nationally on health care. The most dramatic difference is Americans' antipathy to government. Public confidence in heads of U.S. federal health agencies is the lowest of any institution or agency in the three countries.