Health care and healthcare are often used interchangeably, but understanding the difference is critical. It can help you navigate the healthcare system and receive the treatment you need.

There are different levels of healthcare, such as primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care. Tertiary care is more specialized than secondary care.

Definitions

Health care is the efforts made by trained professionals to maintain or restore well-being. Healthcare can also refer to the system that offers medical care.

A health system is a combination of hospitals, providers and insurers that provide health care to a population. In some systems, such as the Beveridge Model in Britain, health care is financed and provided by the government through tax payments.

However, in other models, like the mixed model seen in Germany and Korea, providers, hospitals and insurers are private but pricing is regulated by the government.

Health care is a term used to describe all the activities and services that contribute to people’s physical, mental, social and environmental well-being. This includes the provision of medical services but also includes social and environmental factors such as access to healthy food, safe housing and clean water.

Scope

In a healthcare context, scope of practice (SOP) refers to the list of activities that a licensed healthcare professional is authorized to perform. This is informed by licensing entity guidelines, state and federal law, and employer workplace regulations.

As part of a physician-led health care team, nonphysician health professionals are able to provide safe and essential health care services that can improve patients’ lives. However, safety and patient outcomes are jeopardized when nonphysician health care professionals are allowed to perform services that fall outside of what they have been educated and clinically trained to do.

The AMA has been working to oppose such proposals each year, in every state and on the federal level, that threaten to undermine patient safety and lead to unnecessary scope expansions of nonphysician health care providers. To address these threats, the AMA works closely with state and specialty medical societies on policies that support physician-led team care and oppose inappropriate scope expansions.

Confusion

Among the most confusing aspects of healthcare is the way patients, employees and providers navigate their health plans. They get endless bills, statements and notices that don’t make sense. They don’t know how much they owe and how to pay it.

According to a recent survey, Americans are hopelessly confused about basic healthcare concepts. Even those with insurance are unsure about things like HSAs and FSAs or whether they can get tax help to buy an Obamacare plan.

Confusion is also a leading cause of healthcare costs and dissatisfaction among patients, employers and providers. It leads people to avoid medical care and waste money on unnecessary services.

Alternatives

Health insurance is great for specific purposes, mainly to help an individual or family save large amounts of money when faced with an unexpected illness or injury. Unfortunately, insurance costs have skyrocketed in recent years making it hard for many to afford a traditional policy and remain financially healthy.

One of the most popular alternatives to traditional insurance is a care membership. These are designed to offer affordable office visits, lab testing and savings on your prescriptions.

These are a good option for individuals in between jobs, freelancers and those who are too young or too old to buy a traditional policy. They can also be a good choice for those who are prone to frequent trips to the doctor and don’t have the money to pay for regular coverage.

The best way to choose an alternative to health care is to carefully consider your needs. A comprehensive budget calculator can help you determine which is the best fit for your situation.