C489 task 3.docx (3) Western Governors University A1. Country to Compare I have chos

C489 task 3.docx (3)    Western Governors University  A1.  Country to Compare  I have chosen to compare the US to Japan.  A2.  Access  In Japan their government regulates most of the public health insurance.  Citizens are mandated to enroll in one of health care programs according to their employment status and/or their place of residence.  The Japanese can add their children to a parents insurance.  Usually the parent with higher income adds the child to their insurance.  Japanese insurance pays for seventy percent of the total medical costs and adults have to pay the rest.  Children are free to this charge because they can apply for Free Medical Care Certificate for Children provided from the city/ward.  It pays the rest of the thirty percent.  When they apply for this certificate, the Japanese children received treatments and medications for free.  The certificate is valid until the child is fifteen years old, but this age limit is different from city to city. Vaccinations and baby checkups are not covered by insurance in Japan, but their city or ward gives the parents coupons to cover the costs for these.  In the US health insurance is shared between the government, employers and individuals.  The US does not require everyone to have insurance and everyone cannot afford insurance.  There are government assistance programs for low income families, but people often fall through the cracks.  In the US being a child does not guarantee that you will have insurance. There is not a set rate as there