Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): Single-Payer System

A single-payer healthcare system is a type of healthcare financing model where a single entity, usually the government, collects and manages all healthcare funds and pays for all necessary medical services for the entire population. In this system, individuals typically do not have to pay directly for their medical care, but instead, the government uses taxes and other sources of funding to pay for healthcare services.

Advocates of single-payer systems argue that they can lead to lower healthcare costs, greater access to care, and more equitable distribution of resources. Critics argue that they can result in longer wait times for care and less innovation in medical treatments and technologies.

Examples of countries with single-payer healthcare systems include Canada, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. In the United States, the Medicare program for individuals over 65 years old is a form of single-payer system, but the country does not have a universal single-payer system for all citizens.