Medical care spending is the second highest in the OECD
by admin on Nov.26, 2011, under Life and Health insurance
Chile has the second highest out-of-pocket expenditure when it comes to the health sector, out of the 34 countries that
are included in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, (OECD). The report, “Health at a Glance 2011: OECD Indicators,” also shows that Chile is placed very low in terms of government spending in the health sector.
According to the report, for the total annual spending on health, the state covered 47 percent and households financed 34 percent, while 19 percent was covered by private insurance.
In contrast, on average among OECD member countries, governments provide 72 percent of the expenditure. After Mexico, Chile is low on the list in terms of government contribution and it places Chilean families as those who spend the most to maintain a better level of health and to get rid of diseases.
Pocket expenses, as defined by the institution, involve the payments undertaken by the patients as they are not covered by their health insurance, such as payments for medical treatment and prescriptions.
“In OECD member countries, the percentage of health expenditure covered by households averaged 19 percent in 2009, from lower rates of 6 percent and 7 percent in the Netherlands and in France, to over 30 percent in Korea, Mexico and Chile,” the report says.
“The public sector is the main source of health funding in all OECD countries, except Chile, Mexico and the United States,” the report states.
Other findings include a higher life expectancy of 78, which means the country has gained 21 years since 1960.
They had also compared obesity rates in the 34 member countries and Chile is placed in fourth place with some of the worst rates of people being overweight, after the US, Mexico and New Zealand.
Anishka is a French and Spanish graduate from Bath University in the UK. She is in Santiago for around 3 months to learn more about Latin America, especially the language and culture, and Journalism.
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