From ObamaCare Should Take Lessons from Israel in American Thinker:

Health care services in Israel account for 7.7% of GDP (the overall average in OECD countries is 9.5%); the difference partly reflects the relatively youthful population (27.9% under 15) compared with the average OECD of 18%.  The system provides both universal access to many services and also private service.  It faces a number of challenges: though the aged presently represent only 10% of population, a significant increase is projected for the future.  Furthermore, there is a need for more health care professionals, and there are socio-economic issues.

These issues relate mostly to Arab Israelis and Bedouins.  The Arabs are poorer than the average and are less healthy for social reasons; they tend to smoke more heavily than non-Arabs and have a higher incidence of obesity , particularly among women, than others.

The essence of the health system is universal provision: a national health insurance (NHI), using four health funds, and also private health care offered by commercial insurance policies.  The health funds, which all residents of the population must join, are responsible for the majority of health care and are the sole providers of almost all kinds of health services.  Consumer choice and competition among the four funds is encouraged.  The funds are an interesting mixture, partly public service and partly commercial ventures.

The private part of the system is extensive.  About 75% of the population buy supplementary insurance offered by the health funds, and about 40% hold policies offered by insurance companies.  The share of public spending on health has fallen from around 70% in the 1990s to 60% today as private care and spending on private health insurance premiums have increased

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/12/obamacare_should_take_lessons_from_israel.html#ixzz2nd9yaDfq
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