Two-tier healthcare
Two-tier healthcare
Two-tier healthcare (pronunciation: /tuː tɪər ˈhelθkeər/) is a system where a basic healthcare service is provided by the government, while a secondary tier of service is available for those who can afford private health insurance or out-of-pocket costs.
Etymology
The term "two-tier" originates from the concept of having two levels or "tiers" of service. In this context, it refers to the dual system of public and private healthcare provision.
Definition
In a two-tier healthcare system, all individuals have access to a certain level of healthcare services. This is often provided by the government and funded by taxes. This is the first "tier". The second "tier" is a private system where individuals can pay for additional healthcare services not covered by the government. This can be through private health insurance or out-of-pocket expenses.
Related Terms
- Single-payer healthcare: A system in which a single public or quasi-public agency organizes health care financing, but the delivery of care remains largely in private hands.
- Universal healthcare: A health care system in which all residents of a particular country or region are assured access to health care.
- Private healthcare: Health care provided by entities other than the government, usually funded through private health insurance or out-of-pocket payments.
- Public healthcare: Health care service provided by a government to its citizens, funded by taxes.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of a two-tier healthcare system include the ability for individuals to access additional services if they can afford it, potentially reducing wait times for certain procedures. Disadvantages can include inequality in the quality of care received by different socioeconomic groups, and potential underfunding of the public system due to the existence of a private alternative.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Two-tier healthcare
- Wikipedia's article - Two-tier healthcare
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski