The United States is very different from Norway when it comes to the structure of its healthcare system. The Norwegian healthcare structure underwent a radical change in 2002, when a hospital reform took place which saw the government take responsibility for managing the entire hospital system across the country. As a result, the state finances almost all expenses incurred by the patient. This reform also guaranteed healthcare as the network could not go bankrupt as the government owned all healthcare companies. This principle ensured that all legal residents had equal access regardless of socioeconomic status. Furthermore, with the government responsible for healthcare costs, in 2010 9.4% of the country's GDP went to healthcare spending. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Unlike Norway, the United States does not have a uniform healthcare system, without universal health coverage. Instead, their system is considered “hybrid” where 48% of healthcare spending comes from private funds, 28% from families and 20% from private businesses. Therefore, most healthcare is privately financed. As a result, due to inconsistent and poorly managed costs, the United States spent 16.9% of GDP, which is almost double that of Norway. To rub salt in the wounds, while the entire Norwegian system guarantees legal residency, in 2014 the United States had 33 million uninsured residents (representing 10% of the country's population). If the United States adopted a more universal healthcare approach, prices for services would become standardized to reduce costs compared to the ambiguity of a private market. We need to transform the model from a government-led model to a market-driven one. In what areas does their health surpass that of the United States? Norway outperforms the United States in several health categories. Overall, Norway has an obesity rate four times lower than the United States. This statistic plays a vital role in life expectancy, where Norway ranks 17 points higher than the United States. High-quality healthcare in Norway not only has a system that provides coverage to all legal residents, but also a number of doctors available to the public. Given that, although most hospitals in Norway are government-owned, there are also private ones available to the public. In Norway, subnational governments play a key role in collecting taxes to finance health services. There is national funding that provides compensation for regions with high needs or low means. However, when it comes to drug approval, negotiation with suppliers and patient contribution levels are all set by the national government. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Both countries can contribute to patients' healthcare costs out of pocket; but it is Norway that far surpasses the United States by having only a $246 annual deductible for its residents compared to the large variety offered by the private market which has a monthly premium in addition to the annual deductible. Regarding cost-related barriers to accessing healthcare, in the United States 37% of the population experienced some type of barrier due to cost compared to the 10% that the Norwegian population faced. This thanks.