National & International - Health Care Compare

The United Health Foundation’s released its 22nd annual America’s Health Rankings report on Tuesday, December 11. Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Census Bureau and American Medical Association, the report provides an overview and . . . → Read More: New Report on America’s Health Rankings Indicates Progress But Troubling Challenges

In a health policy paper published on October 11, 2012 in The Lancet medical journal, US and UK experts on healthcare policy who co-authored the article conclude that, even though the US and UK healthcare systems are often thought . . . → Read More: US and UK Healthcare Systems Should Learn From Each Other, Experts Conclude

The Save the Children foundation has published its 13th annual “State of the World’s Mothers Report,” which compares and ranks 165 countries around the world in terms of the Best and Worst Places to Be a Mom. This year’s . . . → Read More: Norway Ranks as Best Country to be a Mom; U.S. 25th in the World, New Report Finds

See how Mexico’s National Institute of Older Persons (INAPAM) promotes their aging population. Watch AARP VIVA »

The 22nd annual America’s Health Rankings® report was released on December 5, 2011, grading and ranking the 50 U.S. states in terms of the level of their overall health and health care, determined by 23 objective measurements. The annual . . . → Read More: Which States Have the Best and Worst Health Rankings in 2011?

In a declared effort to combat obesity and heart disease, Denmark has imposed what may be the world’s first “fat food tax” on foods with more than 2.3 percent saturated fat. The tax, which went into effect on Saturday, . . . → Read More: Denmark Imposes ‘Fat Tax’ on High Saturated Fat Foods to Combat Obesity

actual S&P Research Update of August 5, 2011, downgrading the U.S. credit rating, was published by S&P on their website. It is entitled, “United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered To ‘AA+’ On Political Risks And Rising Debt Burden; . . . → Read More: S&P Downgrade of US Credit Rating Cites Political Brinksmanship, Looming Deficit from Rising Health Care Costs

A new study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has found that the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States is significantly higher than among adults in Canada. In addition, over a . . . → Read More: New Study Finds U.S. Adults Significantly More Obese than Canadians

A new study by a panel of the National Research Council of the National Academies has found that the rate of increase in life expectancy in the U.S. has fallen behind the rate of increase in life expectancy in . . . → Read More: U.S. Falls Behind Other Developed Countries In Life Expectancy Gains

According to a study published November 18, 2010 by The Commonwealth Fund: “A new 11-country survey from The Commonwealth Fund finds that adults in the United States are far more likely than those in 10 other industrialized nations to . . . → Read More: Survey of 11 Countries Finds U.S. Adults Most Likely to Forgo Medical Care Due to Cost; U.S. is Highest Cost, Most Complex System

From NPR (National Public Radio) “Countries with governments and economies similar to the United States have come up with a variety of methods to make sure that all of their citizens receive health care. While residents in Europe and . . . → Read More: Health Care: An International Comparison

The Snapshots of health systems provide brief overviews of health care in Austria, Belgium, Denmark,Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,Sweden and The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Read More . . . → Read More: Snapshots of Health Systems in 16 Countries

By Kristen Gerencher, MarketWatch Life expectancy in the United States reached a high of 77.8 years in 2004, a 30 year jump over the 20th century. Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Sweden and other Western European countries are . . . → Read More: Applying the lessons of longevity; Aging populations, life-expectancy gaps test global economy

From Judy Steed, Special to thestar.com, Tononto, Canada. A description of the government-run Swedish system. Women occupy half the seats in Swedish parliament, have a strong political presence, and have put in place strong social programs from cradle to . . . → Read More: Sweden makes elder care a priority

From Judy Steed for thestar.com “The Danes do all they can to enable elders to stay in their own homes. And for those who are too frail, the country’s nursing homes are small, homey and delightful.” Read More . . . → Read More: Elderly thrive in Denmark

Health statistics and health information for the 193 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO), and a discussion of global health indicators. Read More »»»

Health Reform Without a Public Plan: The German Model, By UWE E. REINHARDT,  – NYTimes.com Germany, Netherlands & Switzerland – None of these countries uses a government-run, Medicare-like health insurance plan. They all rely on purely private, nonprofit or . . . → Read More: Health Reform Without a Public Plan: The German, Netherlands & Swiss Model

According to a recently released ranking of the countries in the world by the Save The Children Foundation, Norway ranked # 1.  The U.S. was # 28 on the list.  Factors considered in the ranking included the level of infant mortality, . . . → Read More: Norway Ranks As The Best Place in the World To Be a Mother