Healthcare Insurance Reform and Information Digitization: A Comparison Between China and Other Countries

There are different approaches to healthcare insurance reform and healthcare information digitization in different countries. This article will briefly explain the differences between China and foreign countries in terms of healthcare insurance reimbursement systems and healthcare information digitization methods, and draw conclusions through comparison.

China's healthcare insurance system belongs to socialized healthcare insurance, funded by the government and society, achieving universal healthcare coverage. Some developed countries such as the United States and Canada use commercial healthcare insurance, where individuals or employers purchase insurance with the government only providing subsidies or tax incentives. Under this system, individuals and businesses bear a greater burden for healthcare insurance, and healthcare costs are also higher.

China's healthcare insurance system includes various forms such as basic healthcare insurance, catastrophic illness insurance, outpatient supplementary insurance, and commercial insurance, providing comprehensive and flexible coverage. In some developed countries, healthcare insurance systems are relatively simple, usually only having one or a few forms. For example, the UK's National Health Service covers everyone, but due to funding gaps, many medical services require self-payment or private insurance.

In China's healthcare insurance reimbursement system, the reimbursement ratio for medical expenses is relatively low, usually only covering part of the cost. This is because medical costs are relatively low in China, and there is a more prominent contradiction between healthcare insurance fund revenue and expenditure. In some developed countries, the reimbursement ratio for healthcare insurance is relatively high, but healthcare costs are also more expensive. For example, France's healthcare insurance system can cover most medical expenses, but the healthcare insurance fund faces long-term financial pressures.

There are also other differences in healthcare insurance systems between different countries. For example, foreign healthcare insurance systems can cover specific medical services such as dental and ophthalmic services, while China's healthcare insurance system has not achieved full coverage yet.

In addition, the funding methods of healthcare insurance funds in different countries also differ, such as through taxation and social security fees. The reimbursement scope of medical services and drugs also varies in different countries' healthcare insurance systems.

China's healthcare information digitization development is relatively late compared to developed countries such as Europe and the United States. China's healthcare information infrastructure and technological level still need to be improved. However, with the deepening of China's healthcare reform, healthcare information digitization has been identified as a key development area. Currently, China's technology applications in big data and artificial intelligence are gradually increasing. In addition, China's healthcare information digitization emphasizes data sharing and networking. The government regards healthcare information digitization as a national strategy and an important support for health and wellness. The government has introduced a series of policies to encourage healthcare institutions to implement informationization and promote the sharing and integration of healthcare information.

China's healthcare information digitization focuses more on the application of mobile internet and cloud computing. With the popularity of smartphones, mobile healthcare has become a hotspot in China's healthcare information digitization. Through mobile healthcare applications, patients can communicate with doctors anytime, anywhere, and obtain medical services. At the same time, the widespread application of cloud computing technology provides a more convenient means for healthcare information digitization, while ensuring the security of healthcare information. In comparison, developed countries such as Europe and the United States pay more attention to privacy protection and data security in healthcare information digitization. These countries already have more mature technology and experience in healthcare information digitization, but also face issues such as data security. In healthcare information digitization, privacy protection and data security have always been the focus of attention in Europe and the United States.

With the continuous development of technology, healthcare information digitization will become an important trend in the global healthcare industry, and countries will continue to strengthen the construction of healthcare informationization to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare services. Through the comparison of different development methods of healthcare insurance systems and healthcare information digitization at home and abroad, it can be seen that all countries are strengthening the management of healthcare information, and one of the main solutions is to establish an information management platform or information management system to allow data exchange between different users or organizations. Therefore, for people concerned about healthcare insurance reimbursement information, establishing a healthcare insurance reimbursement information management system will be an important way to help healthcare information digitization and also one of the ways to help people obtain healthcare information.