How many countries have free healthcare?

Asked by: Dr. Freida Bins Sr.  |  Last update: January 6, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (47 votes)

All but 43 countries in the world have free healthcare or access to universal healthcare for at least 90% of their citizens according to Hudson's Global Residence Index. However, Brazil is the only country in the world that offers free healthcare for all its citizens.

Which countries have free healthcare?

Botswana: In Botswana, hospital care, lab tests, and medications are free for citizens at public facilities, which make up 98% of the country's healthcare services. Brazil: Brazil offers free healthcare to all citizens, residents, and visitors through its publicly funded healthcare system, the Sistema Único de Saúde.

Where does the US rank in healthcare?

The US health care system ranked last overall among 10 other high-income countries on key issues such as equity, access to care, and outcome measures, according to a new report, Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing US Health System, by The Commonwealth Fund.

Is healthcare free in Canada?

In Canada's health care system, some services are free at the point of service while others require the patient to pay a fee. Roughly 70% of health care spending in Canada is covered by the government, paid for with tax dollars. (Some of those services may still require some payment from the patient.)

Is healthcare free in the USA?

There is no universal healthcare. The U.S. government does not provide health benefits to citizens or visitors. Any time you get medical care, someone has to pay for it.

Countries That Will Pay You to Live There

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Is healthcare free in China?

Healthcare in China is free for Chinese citizens and Chinese permanent residents. If you're a foreigner with permanent resident status you may be able to access government supported public health insurance. If not, you'll need private health cover.

Why is US healthcare so expensive?

There are many possible reasons for that increase in healthcare prices: The introduction of new, innovative healthcare technology can lead to better, more expensive procedures and products. The complexity of the U.S. healthcare system can lead to administrative waste in the insurance and provider payment systems.

Is healthcare free in Japan?

Is healthcare free in Japan? Healthcare isn't free but it's relatively inexpensive. In addition to having to pay monthly premiums into the public health insurance system, Japanese citizens pay 30% of their medical bills themselves - bills that are closely regulated by the state, so that they never become unaffordable.

Who has the best healthcare in the world?

The Legatum Prosperity Index 2023

According to the index, Singapore ranks first for healthcare, followed by Japan in second place and South Korea in third. In contrast, the United States ranks much lower, coming in at 69th place in this assessment. The full rankings are listed below.

Is healthcare free in Germany?

Yes, all Germans and legal residents of Germany are entitled to free “medically necessary” public healthcare, which is funded by social security contributions. However, citizens must still have either state or private health insurance, covering at least hospital and outpatient medical treatment and pregnancy.

What state is #1 in healthcare?

Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Iowa, and Connecticut are the top-ranked states according to the 2020 Scorecard, which assesses all 50 states and the District of Columbia on more than 45 measures of access to health care, quality of care, service use and costs of care, health outcomes, and income-based health care ...

What is the healthiest country in the world?

According to the index, Spain takes the top spot as the healthiest country in 2024. This impressive feat is attributed to a robust public healthcare system, readily available preventive care, and the widely celebrated Mediterranean diet.

What country has the best doctors in the world?

Here are the top 10 countries known to have the best doctors according to the World Population Review 2024:
  1. United States. The United States is often considered a global leader in the medical field. ...
  2. India. ...
  3. United Kingdom. ...
  4. Germany. ...
  5. France. ...
  6. Switzerland. ...
  7. Canada. ...
  8. Italy.

Why is the US the only country without free healthcare?

Typical explanations include a history of individualistic culture, union bargaining, inflationary pressure, or favourable tax treatment for employer-sponsored health insurance (Scott 2023b).

What country has the most expensive health care?

The United States: the world's highest medical expenses

The United States has the most expensive healthcare system of any country. A medical consultation with a general practitioner costs, on average, $190 or around €170. A stay in hospital can result in bills amounting to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

How do the poor afford health insurance in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, patients pay up to 8% of their personal income towards the cost of a basic insurance plan. If their premiums work out to more than 8% of their income, the government provides a cash subsidy to cover the difference.

Why does the U.S. rank so low in healthcare?

Advanced medical care out of reach for many

Many of America's most vulnerable, including racial minorities and people with low incomes, are uninsured or underinsured, Gostin noted. Given the high cost of medical services, many people delay or avoid care.

What country is the most medically advanced?

The answer to the question, “what country leads the world in medical innovation?” is the United States. Medical industry professionals all over the world would have to agree that the top medical technology currently being used around the world has ties to the U.S.

Is healthcare in Canada free?

2, 3 These taxation-based, publicly funded, universal programmes cover core medical and hospital services for all eligible Canadians, and are free at the point of care (figure 1 ).

How much does a doctor's visit cost in Japan?

The total cost of a visit to a medical facility in Japan is around 5,000 yen in total, for those with insurance. The first consultation to a clinic or hospital will likely cost around 3,000 to 4,000 yen. If you are visiting for a follow-up appointment, the cost of your visit may be less than 1,000 yen.

Is college free in Japan?

Tuition and Scholarships in Japan

Tuition fees at Japanese public universities are 535,800 yen, or $6,500. Academic fees for the first year generally consist of admission fee, tuition fee, and facility and equipment usage fee, but in Tsukuba, the regular entrance fees and first year tuition fees have been waived.

What happens in America if you can't afford healthcare?

Americans are no longer taxed for not carrying health insurance. Medical debt contributes to a large number of bankruptcies in America. Access to quality primary care is critical, but doctors have the right to refuse patients without insurance or who are able to pay out-of-pocket expenses.

Why do hospitals charge so much for Tylenol?

According to AHA, the chargemaster aggregates the hospital's overall costs on delivering quality care to patients: “In order to take medications in a hospital, even over-the-counter medicines, they must be prescribed by a doctor (a little bit of cost for the doctor), that order gets transmitted to the pharmacy (a ...

Why do Americans pay more for healthcare than any other nation?

There are many possible factors for why healthcare prices in the United States are higher than other countries, ranging from the consolidation of hospitals — leading to a lack of competition — to the inefficiencies and administrative waste that derive from the complexity of the U.S. healthcare system.