Universal Healthcare

Definition

• A national or regional healthcare system where all people are provided healthcare benefits free at the point of use. Unlike the United States, which is the only wealthy industrialized nation where most people must purchase health insurance or receive health insurance as a benefit from their employer, many countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany provide universal health care to all legal residents, paid for with tax dollars. Also known as "universal health care coverage", "universal coverage."

Synonyms
universal coverage, universal health coverage, universal care, medicare, social health protection

Related Terms and Acronyms

• Group Home Care — Definition,
  • An arrangement where a group of people with disabilities receive both custodial and medical care in a single residence instead of in their own homes, which can be prohibitively expensive.
• Health and Welfare Trust (HWT) — Acronym,
  • A method for employers to offer their employees tax-free health benefits.
• Health Insurance (HI) — Acronym,
  • Insurance that covers the costs of medical expenses for insured persons.
• Healthcare Plan — Definition,
  • Insurance that can cover medical and dental expenses for insured people.
• Medical Specialist — Definition,
  • A doctor with training in a specific medical field.
• Point of Service Plan — Definition,
  • A health insurance plan that combines the features of both health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations.
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) — Acronym,
  • A health care program that gives its members a level of freedom and independence when choosing health care options.
• Private Health Services Plan (PHSP) — Acronym, Canada, Important,
  • A method for businesses to provide health benefits for their employees that is both tax deductible for the business and non taxable for the employee.
  ➥ Provides tax-deductible health and dental benefits in Canada.
• Private Healthcare — Definition,
  • Health services no provided by the government, often paid out of pocket.
• Successive Periods — Definition,
  • When multiple hospital stays are considered as one when the stays are a result of, or are related to, a single medical condition.
• Two-Tier Healthcare — Definition,
  • A situation where public healthcare is available to all people, but private healthcare can be purchased by those who want it.
• Waiting Period — Definition,
  • The amount of time that must pass before something occurs.