title: In New Survey Of Eleven Countries, US Adults Still Struggle With Access To And Affordability Of Health Care.
abstract: Surveys of patients' experiences with health care services can reveal how well a country's health system is meeting the needs of its population. Using data from a 2016 survey conducted in eleven countries-Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States-we found that US adults reported poor health and well-being and were the most likely to experience material hardship. The United States trailed other countries in making health care affordable and ranked poorly on providing timely access to medical care (except specialist care). In all countries, shortfalls in patient engagement and chronic care management were reported, and at least one in five adults experienced a care coordination problem. Problems were often particularly acute for low-income adults. Overall, the Netherlands performed at the top of the eleven-country range on most measures of access, engagement, and coordination.
authors.affiliation: Robin Osborn (ro@cmwf.org) is vice president of the International Program in Health Policy and Practice Innovations at the Commonwealth Fund, in New York City.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.affiliation: David Squires is a senior researcher at the Commonwealth Fund.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Squires
authors.affiliation: Michelle M. Doty is vice president of survey research and evaluation at the Commonwealth Fund.
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Doty
authors.affiliation: Dana O. Sarnak is a senior research associate in the International Program in Health Policy and Practice Innovations at the Commonwealth Fund.
authors.forename: Dana O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Sarnak
authors.affiliation: Eric C. Schneider is senior vice president for policy and research at the Commonwealth Fund.
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019049:Developed Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014943:Global Health; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics*; D007348:Insurance, Health; D014481:United States
keywords: Access To Care; Chronic Care; Determinants Of Health; Primary Care; Special Populations