Switzerland's Healthcare Explained!

[@haute39234]

I feel like the Swiss model would be the easiest for the US to switch to.

[@tookitogo]

I've said this for years. Indeed, before Switzerland adopted this system, their system was not that different from pre-Obamacare healthcare in USA. (Though by that time, something like 97% of Swiss had employer-provided healthcare, versus whatever sad percentage it is in USA.)

[@steveh46]

The ACA was based on the Swiss system.

[@tookitogo]

steveh46 If so, it's been perverted beyond recognition. ACA bears little resemblance to the Swiss system at this point.

[@bryankinney1]

Antonio Tejada i've enjoyed all of your comments so far, each intelligent in its own right. since you live in switzerland, can you explain the sliding scale/subsidies system? i understand that everyone buys their own insurance regardless of employment, but the government helps cover the cost of low-income individuals. he did not explain in details, however, how this is done exactly. is everyone taxed equally for insurance? are there several income groups, each charged a fixed amount, or is it the same percentage for everyone so that the richer you are, the more you pay? and what's that about salaries being higher in switzerlad?? according to every statistic i've found, GDP is highest in the us. are you taking about salaries for a specific sector of the population? just curious, thank you.

[@tookitogo]

Brian Kinney The exact implementation of the subsidy varies by canton, but according to official sources, the amount of the subsidy depends on taxable income, location, and age, and whether there are kids. Additionally, young adults 18-25 get a substantial subsidy (half the regional average) during their education. Cf. www.svazurich.ch/internet/de/home/produkte/praemienverbilligung.showall.html (in German) But basically, the idea is that nobody will spend more than 8% of their income on insurance premiums. You can choose from different annual deductibles for adults (300/500/1000/1500/2000/2500 francs; statistically, only 300 or 2500 make sense). The co-pay is 10%, but is capped annually at 700 francs (20% for name-brand drugs IF a generic is available). For example, I pay about 330/mo (no subsidy) for the premium with a 300 franc deductible. So my minimum annual outlay for healthcare is 330*12=3960, and my absolute maximum is 3960+300+700=4960. So no matter what happens, there is no way that medical costs could lead to financial ruin. In a year like this one, where my healthcare consumption is high, the low deductible pays for itself. In years where my consumption is low (under about ~1500), the higher deductible would be cheaper, but I like the peace of mind. GDP is not income. By median household income, Switzerland is #1, at about $62K, vs. $31K for USA. And while cost of living here is undoubtedly high, you nonetheless end up with more disposable income. As a British writer wrote in his book, "The Perpetual Tourist", about living in Switzerland: "Just know that when you go on your holiday of a lifetime to Spain, that the beaches will be full of Swiss supermarket cashiers who paid for their holiday in cash." Cf. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_household_income USA's GDP and mean (not median) household income is distorted by the top 0.1%, whose astronomical incomes pull up the averages, though the "average joe" sees none of that money. (And it's that 0.1% that has received essentially all of the income growth in USA for a decade or more.)

[@BC-ef8vu]

it might be because I'm Swiss but if America wants to keep private healthcare, this would be the way to go.

[@dkupke]

Baltasar Cuellar It’s about the closest that I could see being doable in the US, but I don’t think it will ever work out. There are just too many aspects that would be labeled “big gubbmint.”

[@marcosrodriguez832]

Greedy conservatives wouldn't allow anything near this

[@alexturlais8558]

Its not really private healthcare in any way similar to the American system. The U.S. healthcare system is a massive industry making billions, but in Switzerland the insurance companies are nonprofit.

[@nunyadambusiness3530]

Well there'd be a big difference. You can't go bankrupt for medical issues on private insurance in Switzerland, however you can in the US.

[@antonioiniguez1615]

Marcos Rodríguez no we don't want it because privatized healthcare is better

[@Joeyblondewolf2]

This is the #1 country I would want to live

[@111-x5x]

Not so easy to just live here.

[@bgymn-fn8jy]

countries like this have the highest youth suicide rates. think twice.

[@IsentropeMachzahl]

@@bgymn-fn8jy "Countries like this" - what do you mean by that? Where do you get your data from? This study (from 2005) suggests otherwise: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1414751/ This data is from 2008 and does not support your claim: figure.nz/chart/KAAMVQhvxxhFoLPF

[@xitlalio.7136]

Chris Planda definitely not the highest but iceland is a better alternative and has great things like switezerland does

[@IsentropeMachzahl]

@@xitlalio.7136 Well for me it does not. I specifically want to move to Switzerland for its job opportunities, low tax rates and high quality of living (in part due to the stunning scenery, strong civil rights and financial industry). Iceland is mesmerizingly beautiful but taxes are higher and job opportunities (at least in my field) are sparse. I don't really see it as an alternative. What are the reasons why you think it is "a better alternative"? What "great things" do you mean, could you elaborate?

[@DramaQueenMalena]

From Switzerland: In Switzerland a construction worker or a teacher has a wage of 6 000 $ a month. A house cleaner gets at least 30$ per hour. If you consider our high wages it's not as expensive as you might think.

[@daniela.6319]

Malèna P you have to be a damn good construction worker to get 6000$ a month...

[@shudheshvelusamy7644]

@@daniela.6319Workers are paid high wages because the cost of living in Switzerland is very high. If you look at GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power, it is actually very close to the US's

[@daniela.6319]

Shudhesh Velusamy i'm from Switzerland, but you'll barely see a constructionworker making more than 5000$.

[@thanwasingphanit9900]

Daniel Hegner I think it is possible actually, if you work in the inner Switzerland you’ll earn definitely more than someone living in Ticino like me

[@rock3times]

@@shudheshvelusamy7644 what the swiss can do is to cover everyone with the basics. And the poor get goverment subsidy. They control the prices very well.

[@holymudblood]

I'm Swiss but I've been living abroad for a year now, and this made me so nostalgic I almost cried. Seriously. I didn't know half of this stuff though, so nice to know :) I MISS MY COUNTRY !

[@MrDanielfff777]

How arw younoq

[@dae1925]

I want to move to your country. I have been there and I just lived your country so much I'm moving right away

[@MichaelAtkinson-dp1et]

Why would you leave Switzerland, 🇨🇭 it seems like the best country in the world

[@bilbobagginsofbagend]

i'm swiss and i'd like to congratulate you guys on this video. i've liked all your videos, but this time, i can actually judge the fairness and accuracy of what you are saying. excellent job! i have two additions: first, there's always a huge political debate about the swiss health system. for example, in my canton i helped fight for higher help by the canton for the people with less income to buy the obligatory health insurance. second, there will be a national vote that could change the system drastically: a people's initiative proposes that basic health insurance (SHI) would no longer be covered by private insurance companies, but by one company run by government. it's pretty certain that the people's initiative will not reach a majority in the vote.

[@P1ranh4]

***** Usually initiatives fail in Switzerland. However they spark a long nationwide discussion on the issues. Sometimes the government offers an alternative plan. Then we decide which one we want to apply, the original or the alternative (or neither for that matter). Of course wealthy organizations have more opportunity to shower the voters with ads, but it never drowns out the voices against. In my opinion populism is a bigger problem in our democracy. It's easier to take opportunity of a mob mentality. So laws against banks are more easily passed after the crisis of 2008 and laws against foreigners are also always popular with a fifth of our population being foreigners.

[@tookitogo]

***** I'm an American-Swiss dual-citizen now living in Switzerland, so I can elucidate and compare. :) Initiatives (citizens want to vote to create a new law) and referendums (citizens want to vote to change or repeal an existing law) are both available here at cantonal and federal level, and both are used extensively. This results in the will of the Swiss people having *far* more weight in politics than it does in USA. The CEO of my last employer is a member of parliament, one known for bringing opposing parties to the table and getting them to compromise. And she said something that gets to the core of Swiss politics: compromise. (paraphrased) "Here in Switzerland, if you want power as a politician, you have to create laws that the people will not object to. Because if the people don't like it, your law will go to referendum, and at that point, the people have the power, and you have none." The same applies to political inaction, resulting in an initiative. So here, it's ultimately much more difficult for companies/organizations to influence politics, because they must convince the *people*, not just a handful of congressmen they've paid off. The cost of this system is that the voting system must be used many times per year, and each time, many different issues, from local to federal, are voted on. It's a lot of paper and a lot of tallying, but here, it's considered the backbone of the democratic system.

[@tookitogo]

***** It's not a percentage, but rather a set number of signatures that must be collected. At the federal level, that's 100,000 signatures collected within 18 months for an initiative, and 55,000 signatures within 100 days for a referendum. (This is in a country of about 8 million, of whom about 6 million are citizens, so percentage-wise, *very* few signatures are required.)

[@tookitogo]

P1ranh4 FYI, beware that the Swiss definition of "foreigner" diverges massively from the American definition. I think only about 1/3-1/2 of Switzerland's "foreigners" would be foreign by the American definition.

[@P1ranh4]

Antonio Tejada I don't know. My definition would be holding Swiss citizenship, what's the American defintion? Maybe it's also something lost in translation, because I don't think all foreigners are foreign. There are enough people who were born here, grew up here and speak the language and everything and don't hold citizenship.

[@ChickenWilickers]

I always hear interesting things about the swiss. Things like their gun laws are quite liberal (by this I mean free), with high ownership rates, but contrasted with conscription into local militias. Then there is the strange local govt. which seems to emphasize direct democracy. There is also that proposal of providing citizens with a basic income. This all seems strange, and wonderful to a person living in Canada. I've been to switzerland a few times and christ the attitude, infrastructure, and areas are just amazing as well.

[@turritopsisrockola]

Well, I find it quite interesting as well. Some classic liberal economists like Friedrich Hayek supported the idea that the state should ensure “a certain minimum income for everyone … a sort of floor below which nobody need fall even when he is unable to provide for himself so he isn't submitted to the will of others because of his economic vulnerability.

[@리주민]

No local militias I'm aware of - its the Swiss army. Active rates stand around 100,000, but every able-bodied male (exceptions for everything) must serve a year or so....like community service.

[@racciacrack7579]

José Lemus I don’t like the idea of a basic level income.I don’t want my life to be owned by the Government.If everyone is given a basic income that means we are, most likely, going to be basing a decent portion of our life on the backs of the government.I feel like a better solution is to just have temporary government housing, 3/4 homeless in America are temporary and can get out of it with a better life, but we should just have a catchment system so no one ends up on the streets, so we can give them a place to live for a bit while they fix themselves and receive some help.

[@리주민]

@@racciacrack7579 If the basic income comes from a permanent fund as in alaska, it's your money. You are no more owned by the govt than a shareholder in a mutual fund is.

[@racciacrack7579]

리주민 Ok but the reason they can have it in Alaska is because America needs to suckle on their oily teat. It is recognized how vital they are and they deserve some compensation. They benefit from their much important oil. And at the end of the day for the rest of America the money is going to be handled by the government. Government taxes the people than gives everyone a minimum income. So I will have to build my life on top of a fixed government handed income, which means I’m dependent on them. The government could just pull the plug and many people would be negatively affected because they’ve relied on money from the government on top of their own earned money. It is like playing Jenga but a few of the blocks are lended to you by the big man a floor above. He could let you keep playing, but he could also take back his blocks which might collapse your tower or make it unstable because you built your tower with the help of those blocks. I mean my biggest issue with universal income is that America (unless you are living though a global pandemic) has some of the greatest social mobility, there isn’t a reason to rely on the government. Of course families suffer from generational poverty, but with enough hard work you could greatly impact your family and future generations to come, you can retire a millionaire if you understand how to make your money work for you, and even if you don’t retire with even one million, you still retired with a shit ton (if you were smart) that will benefit your kids or grandkids. My opinion on this is just me being me, I don’t think the average citizen should have to rely on government handouts and healthcare. A better solution in my eyes is to reform parts of our healthcare system to the Swiss model or something similar and have temporary housing for the soon-to-be-homeless so they never end up on the street and have a stable place to rebuild their life from. Also improve government programs for the poor (if a new Swiss-like model doesn’t work in every aspect) like Medicare and Medicaid.

[@Acquavallo]

I really appreciate that you go to the trouble of covering the whole world in your videos. Most youtube channels (big, or even semi-popular) come out of the states, and are very focused on them, leaving the rest of us excluded, and the whole of us uninformed. Thank you for including the whole world, and educating the whole world.

[@sirkisboy]

we're not a parliamentary republic. we are a confederation and a semi-direct democracy ;)

[@37wilde]

We're a federal republic. Democracy would be the form of government, not the form of state :)

[@simonjesusbeliever3467]

The confederation is like saying China is a republic belonging to the people just cuz the name

[@GuentherVanRaven]

We are direct, considering parliamentary structures to be semi-direct👍🏻.

[@kines68]

I have not read the comments below, however, as I Swiss I might want to add/clarify some points made in this great clip: There ARE taxbreaks for health insurance costs. Depending on the Kanton you live in, you might be able to deduct half of your health insurance costs from taxes. If you happen to have had to pay lots of health related costs by yourself, you can deduct part of this, too. There is indeed some inequality between health insurance providers concerning age and illness related structure of their customers. However, this is looked at and insurances with a great deal of healthy young customers need to pay a certain amount in a pot, where insurances with lots of old/ill people get money from.. Premiums are completely on the individual, but, as was pointed out in the clip, roughly a fourth of all citizens get a premium reduction due to lower income. It is true that there is no special program for the elderly concerning premiums, however, every person over the age of 65 whose money situation is below a certain level is eligible for "Ergaenzungsleistungen" - additional money paid by the community, which also covers the health insurance costs.

[@12345fowler]

It reminds me some discussion I had with a Colombian friend long time ago. I was ranting about Switzerland general attraction to privatisation solutions in all matters like health care, pension schemes etc. where everything is given in the private sector like a cherry on a cake. But he answered me, you don't realise your country is the most "socialist" country to have ever existed lol. It's all a matter of perpective

[@HighKingTurgon]

Do Finland sometime. Their government relationship with health and business and education is fascinating.

[@simonkraemer3725]

Really like that system because you have a must-have affordable basis that covers all essentials and if you need more, you just add it on your own coast.

[@Aritul]

I thank you so much for this series. I still return it even though it has been many years since you published it.

[@sophieisawesomeoh]

Could you look at the Australian medical system?

[@Hallslys]

Do Norway next! It seems like plenty of countries has a "privatized" universal health care system, but here in Norway, we only pay when we need care up to a maximum of 1880NOK a year (300$). No insurance paid what so ever. Healthcare is covered by taxes. Dental care is not covered tho, but all sorts of stuff for the disabled (wheelchairs, hearing aids, transport to and from the hospital, even a customized car for the multihandicapped if you cannot use a regular one!) is covered.

[@belleofacadia]

The Nordic countries are so progressive. The most progressive in the world. Their laws around prostitution are the most respective of human rights in the world.

[@adorabasilwinterpock6035]

belleofacadia Not really. Nordic Welfare did not come from the Progressive movement, but rather trade union parties. Liberalism isnt very big but old style, conservatove socialism is quite popular.

[@enjoyingmyvodka1013]

Hallslys still the same in 2017?

[@sion8]

*+*

[@Mega3rn3st]

Do Finland!

[@GandueanVampiress]

Do either an Asian Country Health Care System (China, Japan, Vietnam, etc) or an Eastern Country (Iran, Iraq, Israel, etc) these would be very interesting

[@sion8]

*+*

[@kylehankins5988]

the east asians twnd to have the lowest costs and the best health outcomes. I would personaly like to see a video on hong kong

[@justinnorwood5477]

It doesn't surprise me that Switzerland has universal coverage, which is not true in the United States. Everyone is insured there, and if you move there you have 3 months to obtain it. This is huge in healthcare and can make the country healthier just by making their citizens have it. One of the biggest differences between Switzerland's and the U.S. health insurance is that you do not get insurance through employment. This struck me by surprise because a large portion of U.S. citizens gets their health insurance through their work. Some more statistics that stood out to me is that the doctors cant charge more for the prices. And that maternity and preventive care for kids are exempt from co-pays. It's interesting to see how each healthcare system differs when it comes to health insurance.

[@bighands69]

There is also a massive private system in Switzerland as well that the wealthy use. A better model for the US would be Singapore and do it at a state level in the US with a federal special insurance for catastrophic claims. And each person's account could be transferred between states if need be. And on top of this people could have their own private insurance were they could cherry pick which healthcare provider they want and in which state.

[@briarl4813]

Could you do one about the Finnish healthcare system?

[@sion8]

*+*

[@tookitogo]

Thanks for posting this, super handy for me to show people who ask me how the healthcare system here works. One correction, though: Health insurance premiums ARE tax-deductible. Even the simplified tax forms (think Swiss equivalent of 1040-EZ) have a box for your annual premium.

[@kanusanyal794]

I am from Bangladesh

[@kanusanyal794]

.

[@frankdavis7590]

I think the most ideal - and feasible - route for the U.S. is to emulate the Swiss health care system, but with even tighter price controls.

[@bighands69]

The Singapore system is amazing. Where a person pays into a savings account and when they need care the cost comes out of the account. And underneath all of that is catastrophic health care that will cover those who do not have funds in their account.

[@emmamoller8845]

Thank you! I am currently doing the global health part of my MD. So many different ways to managed health care. There is much room for improvement in the current system in sweden.

[@asakucinkas8647]

serious...

[@emmamoller8845]

Asa Kucinkas why the sarcasm?

[@andrew-paulclements1502]

Even though I think a Free Market System with high incentives for competition and some minor regulation could be the best system, if a Universal Healthcare system is put in place in the United States, I hope it would follow the Swiss model over other countries, as it is a nice mix between the a Competitive Market and Government assistance.

[@oscaro.350]

Completely agree this works way better than a single payer

[@oscaro.350]

@Алексей Смирнов IK, thats why its a mess

[@gedog77]

@realjohngreen! THE REAL JOHN GREEN! Yes, it makes so much sense that you're around for this.

[@JunYamog]

Hope New Zealand gets a study also. This series of health care systems are helpful, especially to those deciding to migrate to a different country.

[@MastbosMedia]

Can you do the Netherland's Health care system? It's listed on all the charts and info graphics, but we haven't actually heard if it's good or not yet?

[@MichiruEll]

One little addition: There is actually a Healthcare tax deduction for out-of-pocket spending (at least in my canton). If your out-of-pocket spending (including dentistry and things not included in SIH) is more than 2400 in a year, you can get a tax deduction. Useful if you smash all your teeth for example or had to have multiple ambulance transfers from hospital to hospital.

[@vlogerhood]

Was your camera on the fritz? Nearly constant focus problems, very distracting.

[@eisenjeisen6262]

I try to take good care of myself with the help of the VA, thank you, as Switzerland is a great country and i have been there!

[@MichaelSchroeder87]

Good explanation of the Swiss healthcare system. Now if anybody asks, I'll just forward this video.

[@FloridatedH2O]

I love this series, but what would be really super special awesome if you provided the episode script, or some kind of written source to refer back to, so that I don't need to watch the whole video just to find the part about why doctors don't like the Swiss system. As for my suggestions for future entries in the series, I'd like to see some more Asian and 2nd world countries, i.e. Russia, China, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Vietnam, S. Korea, etc. Keep up the good work!

[@recklessroges]

At 2:29 it isn't clear if the out-of-pocket spending values are per day, per week, per year, per visit, persay.

[@lizvlx]

year

[@kinnish5267]

Universal coverage did a great job in Italy during the pandemic. The US does not want an NHS type system which I was part of for 20 years in the UK. Long lines and bad healthcare.

[@mosherubenstein8248]

You know that a country has a good healthcare system when their flag literally becomes a universal symbol for healthcare.

[@LoadOfCrabby]

Do Finland next! :)

[@Intermetheus]

I knew there would be a re-upload!! XD

[@CJonesApple]

why?

[@Intermetheus]

They played the French national anthem at the start instead of the Swiss.

[@Driox]

Can you do one of these on Sweden? Would be interesting to see what our healthcare system looks like from the outside.

[@MatthewGraham027]

This is more like what the US would have naturally evolved too if it wasn't for crazy politics. A private system that simply subsidizes the poor. Just like food stamps etc. Glad to hear that it is working so well.

[@MatthewGraham027]

***** Well if you want a better deal you can copy the best... Singapore They have low prices and great service. But if you go copy the other government dominated systems you will have good and bad. The government is very unresponsive to prices so there will be longer lines etc. But you may save some money if you think its worth it. I think healthcare is one of the few areas where its worth it to pay more if it means that you get to live longer and healthier.

[@MatthewGraham027]

***** Well if that really is true then you got screwed. I don't know enough about Switzerland especially the dealings with your healthcare to say anything substantive. I know that we here in the US need to change our system. Yours so far stands out as better than most. I still think that Singapore is quite amazing in what they deliver and how sensible it is from a long-term standpoint. However we here in the US have the worst so the only way to go is up.

[@MatthewGraham027]

***** It didn't fix any of the biggest drivers of why our system sucks. It does pad a terrible system with some nice features, but most people will admit that it isn't up to par. I am actually quite disappointed since there was so much effort to finally change the system; then it wasn't that great. We will probably be stuck this way for a long while since it is the nature of politics. But it is very disappointing. There can be no agreement when it comes to healthcare so everyone will get screwed as politicians fight about it. My verdict - It's definitely better, but still lackluster.

[@TheRebel57]

you guys should keep doing healthcare triage questions

[@flandherr]

The last sentence pretty much sums up Switzerland: It costs more but the Swiss seem to think it's worth it.

[@semi2893]

Yep! Good things are usually pricy but worth it.

[@bryancasanas578]

I love all of your videos! I'd love to see a Healthcare Triage video on Italy's healthcare system. Is it in the works at all?

[@0ZkYtEKE]

Awesome video. But it would be even better if you shot with a smaller aperture so you could stay in focus when you lean back.

[@mikatu]

You failed to explain that in Switzerland there are people who need to chose between paying the medical insurance or paying a doctor... basically they can't afford to go to the doctor because they need to pay for the insurance. Also, there are people that when reach 18 years old receive a huge bill because their parents "forgot" to pay the monthly insurance, and yes, that bill won't disappear and Needs to be paid by the person. No excuses are allowed. In Swizerland the healtcare is so expensive that people often go abroad to go to the doctor.... there are even organized tours to Hungary where group of people will go to dentists. The system works because people find ways to work around it, not because the system is any good. I am paying 6.000 CHF every year and I don't even go to the doctor, not even once. I go only when I am abroad and pay everything from my own pocket.

[@12345fowler]

If you pay for your insurance then you surely you don't need to pay for your doctor ? Care to explain ?

[@TheRobinator143]

Do one about the Belgian healthcare system please :)

[@wmottow]

Thanks for all the wonderful, useful information, love your channel. Could you do an episode about alcohol? We've heard things for a while like 'a glass of red wine a night is good for you', but I continue to find conflicting articles around the topic. One claimed that any health benefits of alcohol were grossly overstated and another explicitly blamed the minimal drinking habits of the US compared to other countries for our high levels of heart disease. What does the research actually say?

[@AlejandroRodriguez-sk7zo]

You guys are awesome! Great breakdown of essential statistics and relevant information for evaluating healthcare systems. Thank you! We watch your videos as part of out Global Health Systems Course.

[@RainbowYak]

I am Swiss and I'm quite happy with the quality of our system but the costs are indeed too high. I'm in my late 20s and I pay a 4,500 USD premium with a 300 USD deductible. I wonder how that compares to Obamacare. I'm a uni student, so for me that's a lot of money. I do get help from the government (which I'm grateful for because otherwise my premium would be closer to 6,000 USD a year) but even like this, it's pretty tough.

[@NimW]

please do one on georgia!

[@Animalcrossing35]

Please do an episode on the health effects of Fluorescent and LED light bulbs.

[@tookitogo]

Joseph Harrietha I thumbs-upped because it made me laugh. But the question is not entirely preposterous. Indeed, different light does cause different types of fatigue. Some people are more sensitive to flicker, and fluorescent light is notorious for flickering, especially as a tube nears the end of its life. (Use a camera or video camera to film a fluorescent tube while panning VERY quickly across the tube: you will see its white color break up into bars of pink and green for most types.) Some LED lighting (not all) flickers either all the time or when dimmed. This can also be captured on camera. Additionally, LED and fluorescent lighting (unlike incandescent and sunlight) can suffer from an effect called "metamerism", which affects color rendering (and thus can affect contrast, which in turn can cause fatigue). Metamerism occurs because unlike incandescent and sunlight, which both have fairly evenly distributed energy across the entire visible spectrum, LED and fluorescent have very distinct peaks of energy at different wavelengths (colors). Lower quality LED and fluorescent have two energy peaks, resulting in some colors being rendered very unnaturally. Better quality ones have three peaks (similar to the RGB subpixels in a TV or computer display), and I believe the best fluorescent tubes have more, to approximate sunlight. A real, if small, risk from fluorescent lighting is the toxic mercury vapor that is released if a fluorescent tube is broken. So never break them on purpose to make them fit in the recycling bin, and if you do break one by accident, be sure to THOROUGHLY air out the house. (And remember to recycle these so the toxic mercury does not end up in the environment.) LED lighting does not have this hazard. I do not, however, put any stock into worries about electromagnetic fields from fluorescent lighting. The fields are real and can cause interference in things like Ethernet or cable TV cables, but are harmless to humans.

[@tookitogo]

Joseph Harrietha Absolutely. Their symptoms have zero correlation to actual EM radiation, and 100% correlation with being *told* there was EM radiation. (Need to find that study again.)

[@adrianvasian]

Look, guys, everyone like a nice soft background in a video, but you really need to open the camera aperture up mates. Dr. Caroll gets too blurry to often because of moving. Just open the aperture to get a larger depth of field. Please ?

[@billfred51]

Maybe dial the DoF back up a little... Is the leaning back at the start of a statement, then always leaning forward and into focus intentional?

[@sion8]

Why use the dollar sign when you're talking about Swiss Francs? You could've used the ISO code for Swiss Francs instead.

[@MichaelSmith-bh7oh]

Just a random fact, to qualify for federal subsidy you have to earn below 50’000 francs as a single person or 70’000 as a family

[@anniken0]

Do one on the Norwegian healthcare system!

[@gfifer1]

Perhaps Italy next?

[@1glenwi]

@Gemma Hello 👋 I feel Italy and Japan should name among the richest economy countries. How are you today Gemma?

[@darkknight6801]

Can u do a video on Sweden's healthcare system?

[@SJ-xg1uf]

@HealthcareTriage- I really wish you'd done a video about healthcare in Japan.

[@KevTheImpaler]

How is obesity rate affected by their health care service? I'd have thought that was more to do with lifestyle choice and diet.

[@calvinware7957]

Can you make a line graph that shows like government involvement inside the health care system? Im a little confused about the different levels in the systems.

[@meghanvyse6533]

now for a video on the Australian healthcare system? :D

[@TSBoncompte]

today, on why every healthcare system in the world is better than the ones yanks have XD

[@cupcake30001]

Says the idiot who does not know English

[@NawidN]

El Torco Holy shit, dude... ..nice burn. :]

[@Gourmeticainsularis1]

que beq Oh, I apologise for him...He meant to say "more better." ;)

[@Will140f]

Dude, there's no need to be calling people cunts. Don't overreact to her comment or anything, you spaz.

[@RussianBMG]

He didn't overreact. When someone insults your usage of english its rude and annoying, i don't see why people correct others if you can understand them then theres nothing to correct. plus his statement is right US health system care sucks (Im US citizen)

[@N3rdfightermom]

love this show, but camera out of focus was very distracting in this episode.

[@1glenwi]

@Alissa Hello 👋 It’s such an amazing show and interesting, I would love to explore Switzerland when I’m on holidays. How are you today, Alissa?

[@Thunderwalker87]

I don't know if this is where I should express my want of more videos of this kind or specifically which nations to cover... But Italy and Japan. Please.

[@gregory891]

The comment of no tax break is completely incorrect. All health insurance premiums as well as non-reimbursed costs are 100% tax deductible, with no minimum threshold or maximum limit.

[@DenUil]

is Belgium health care coming up?

[@ljmastertroll]

I would like to look at the Cuban system in detail.

[@Sonyas13]

Please do an explanation of Japanese Healthcare!

[@sion8]

*+"

[@lexanderantoin167]

Do the Belgium Healthcare, please. ;)

[@sion8]

*+*

[@nicolechan2010]

do one on Hong Kong system, seems very effective with less % from GDP and the life expectancy is high

[@sion8]

*+*

[@bjrnvegartorseth9028]

Way too shallow focus, or you've put the camera a little bit too far away and the focal plane is right in front of your face.

[@diogonunes1608]

How does Portugal SNS work?

[@dcxh69]

Why isn't Australia included in your comparisons?

[@shadowmaster1313]

Australia hasn't had a Healthcare Explanation yet

[@dcxh69]

Neither has new Zealand

[@smalltime0]

It is included in several comparisons.

[@CoJau911]

you fixed the anthem :)

[@anthonyscott4422]

Doc, do you know if any of the countries previously discussed (with the exception of the United States) had any sort of reluctance or resistance to Universal Healthcare before they were implemented?

[@tookitogo]

I can't speak to the others, but apparently, Switzerland did not have much resistance to making its healthcare universal, since they already had 97% insured anyway. So it was just those 3% and it was easy to push through.

[@djfoo000]

I'm annoyed by the overly shallow depth of field in this video. Subject keeps going in and out of focus by leaning towards and away from the camera.

[@GeorgeOfAllTrades]

A technical note, in case nobody noticed - Aaron leaves the camera's depth of field every time he leans back, thus becoming out of focus - it was a bit distracting...

[@markkeogh2190]

Hi. Thanks for that. Just a nitpick. 29 pc of Swiss get some form of govt help to buy insurance. These are not ‘poor’ people, as you state. Poverty rate in Switzerland is very low so people on moderate wages qualify for subsidies. The word poor is a misnomer.

[@leonmsampaio]

what about brazil's healthcare? =]

[@NucleusDawn]

Are there plans to make an episode about Israel's healthcare system?

[@mohand1999]

NucleusDawn Israel healthcare system?? Israel Genocidecare system to be exact

[@f1chtl]

@@mohand1999 the only genocide in history where the "victims" population grows exponentially.

[@MoreaGaara]

I was wondering about the intro music...

[@CheckeeAintAmused]

I do believe it's "Darude - Sandstorm"

[@stollossi2615]

It is the swiss hymne.

[@theskullkid421]

MoreaGaara swiss national anthem

[@UltraNAGO]

Could you make a video on the Swedish Healthcare system?

[@ImagesMD]

Switzerland does not have the poverty and indigent healthcare burden of the United States. California, a wealthy state, has 25% of its population receiving Medicaid (Medi-CAL) benefits.

[@tookitogo]

And 29% of people here in Switzerland receive government subsidies to pay for their health insurance. So.... your point?

[@oafkad]

Antonio Tejada It's just another one of those lame excuses that has no real baring on reality. Even if it comes from a good place.

[@ImagesMD]

Antonio Tejada Your answer depends on the definition of the word "subsidy". Medicaid is not subsidy. I'm sure someone who has studied poverty can provide some comparisons of Switzerland and California.

[@TooShortPlancks]

Alfred Feingold Perhaps as you initially drew the comparison, you could provide this information? It might help to illustrate your point, and enable better education of others. =]

[@tookitogo]

Alfred Feingold Is there really a functional difference whether the government pays for the healthcare service directly, or whether the government pays for your health insurance premium, which then in turn pays for the healthcare service? Not really. In both cases, the government is causing the payment of the healthcare services so that the poor person needn't.

[@johndonnellan8894]

I Love CH and travel there twice a year..... to compare their ability to provide healthcare to the USA is comparing "apples to oranges". Try paying for a train/bus/ship transportation system like theirs in the USA. Not in your wildest imagination is there enough money to do that!! Love that small beautiful country, like a small family able to AFFORD to buy more for themselves as opposed to "19 and counting".

[@SimpWhiper]

there is enough money you're government just prefers Warmongering over Development

[@olgatschekassin2012]

Good video, but you skipped Italy and Japan in your life expectancy statistics, which are the two countries with the highest life expectancy in the world

[@1glenwi]

@Olga Tschekassin Hello 👋 You’re right :) I wonder why they forgot these two countries ( Italy & Japan) How are you today Olga??

[@drost47]

Hey, I love these, but is there anyway you could also include with the cost of the plans the average amount, and minimum wage of the country, if available. or monthly income, which ever is easiest

[@tookitogo]

He said it, average cost is about $330/mo. Switzerland has no official minimum wage, but the defacto minimum wage for full-time (40-42h week) employment (top 97% of workers) is about $3300/mo. But part time work is common (many workers with families choose to work only 80% in order to have a day to spend with family). As the video says, if the insurance premium exceeds 8% of your income (even if you work part-time!), then the government subsidizes it on a sliding scale, all the way to a full subsidy.

[@mrKreuzfeld]

would you do a scandinavian episode?

[@GuardsmanBass]

Good stuff. Why do the Swiss have such a low obesity rate compared to everyone else? All that walking up and down hills and mountains?

[@tookitogo]

I'm not a scientist, but I believe it's a combination of a less-sedentary lifestyle (people do a lot more walking), much smaller food portions (American portion sizes have grown gargantuan, even as we developed *away* from a hard-labor-based economy), and to an extent, genetic makeup. Many Swiss I know can, and do, eat anything and everything they want without gaining a gram... (lucky bastards...!)

[@michaelz9604]

Although I consider myself a member of the Libertarian Party (US third-party that’s socially liberal and fiscally conservative) I refuse to believe that the complete free market healthcare system works as my party intends. This is the most common sense and conservative way to fix American healthcare, although practically ANYTHING is better than what we have today

[@malikathueler2529]

As a swiss girl, I must say this is a really great video.

[@Owais671]

Can i get your WhatsApp no??

[@keskonriks710]

The system is kind of broken at the moment. Premiums have risen A LOT the past few years. A temporary fix would be the initiative that wants more public momey on cheapening tge premiums for low and middle incomes (capoing what you have to pay yourself at 10% of income). But longterm fixes will only arrive when the premiums are proportional to income, and maybe the private companies are abolished and replaced by a single public insurance, after the model of the AHV (the primary pension).

[@nothingisimpossiblenothing9930]

rvyntshubfwvu4fhu.blogspot.com/2024/03/title-addressing-common-health-problems.html

[@syedanupalam7891]

Will you make videos obout marriage and divorce law.

[@jfinfo12]

Just to let you know the US infant mortality isn't comparable since we count all babies that show signs of life.

[@norgepab2802]

What is stopping us from becoming in American Health Care situation? Is it because of the nonprofits? I'm tired and I wasn't able to to completely get everything

[@peterbell9036]

I am little confused. If people are legally required to get insurance how do children without parents or people with no income or the incapacitated get insurance; does the gov do buy for them??

[@rhyceg]

+Peter bell Think about it, if people who earn less and need help buying insurance get a subsidy on a sliding scale it means the less you earn the more you get in the subsidy to buy the insurance. Earning nothing means a 100% subsidy. Children without parents? Do you mean wards of the state? Well the state agency that cares for them would purchase the insurance cover. Other children have a guardian and the guardian would be responsible for the provision of the cover.

[@Hobbitstomper]

When I was 19, I once was behind my monthly payments for 3 months, and then the police showed up at my door, saying that I have not paid my heath care bill. They brought me to the financial department, where I had to explain why I didn't pay, and sort out a payment plan. They wanted to know if I earn enough to pay, and I did. If I would have earned enough, they would have asked me to sign up for social welfare, where they then would help me with the payment. Switzerland has a very low unemployment rate (3%), and they make sure you get a job within a few weeks. Most people who are unemployed in Switzerland, usually deal with other issues, rather than just no jobs (mental health issues, drugs etc). In Switzerland pretty much everyone who wants a job, has a job, thus everyone can pay for health care.

[@12345fowler]

The fact is this : children without parents pr peple with no income can subscribe a mdecare plan with ANY of the 30+ different insurance companies they wish. Ths insurance companies cannot rejet them. You don't have to show any earnings, any credit rating, any fortune, you just subscribe and they cannot refuse you. Basically you exist as a person = you are in the basic coverage in any of the insurance company. Once you are in, you are covered for the main medical expense. The Swiss beeing always smart with moyey, they always wanted some co-expenses to be paid by the people just as not as to make it completely free so as to see poeple using and abusing the system and do mdeical shopping like my sister going to 3 differents doctors 'just to make sure' when his child has a little fiever. BUT once you are in you also must pay the premium, if you eran little you gert mybe a 15-20% subsidy to help you. If you don't pay or are late with your mionthly payment your insurer cannot kick you out and they must continue the medical coverage.

[@poundedlizard]

Obesity rate has nothing to do with healthcare. That is primarily personal choice. This would also explain higher life expectancy.

[@samsmith3025]

WRONG! Obesity is the number one driver of healthcare costs in the US. Its a huge drain on the system. Obese people are much more likely to require care.

[@Gigaheart]

That healthcare system does seem like it is worth it. Shame on those insurance companies bitching because they have to take care of sick people. That's part of your job, to insure people so they are covered when they get sick.

[@YohannParis]

Great video as usual, love it. But your depth of field is way to shallow, when he talk he's in and out of focus and it's painful to watch. Not for aesthetics but for eye focus.

[@EmersonPictures]

You need to close down your aperture on the camera. Dr. Carroll keeps moving out of the focus depth.

[@Razzfazz87]

Fix your DOF. It's annoying to have you slip in and out of focus because of your body gesturing.

[@Hereticalable]

The Swiss have stuck their finger up at the stupid debates most Western countries have about 'private vs state owned' by simply making a system that works and not worrying too much about who owns it. They also have lots of guns and hardly any gun crime. I wish my country (the UK) would learn more from the Swiss, from how our Union works to our health care and relationship with the EU.

[@krisnasri1534]

+Hereticalable Ahh, but they still have more than other European countries.

[@TheI3lackPredator]

About the guns: every male citizen receives an assult rifle in his millitary service. Afterwards, he can either keep it or give it back to the authorities. Either way, swiss citizens never keep ammunotion at their home, wich is the reason shootings and suicide occur seldom.

[@zeddeka]

I very much doubt you are British. Judging by your profile, you look suspiciously like a Russian troll.