Healthcare model and general information on the healthcare system (financing, stakeholders, insurance): In the United States, healthcare is a mix of public and private, for-profit and non-profit insurers and healthcare providers. Therefore, the financing of healthcare in the United States is managed through a combination of public and private sources. 

The federal government provides funding for the national Medicare program for adults aged 65 and older and some people with disabilities, as well as programs for veterans and low-income individuals, namely Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. States manage and pay for aspects of local coverage and the safety net. 

Private insurance, the dominant form of coverage, is provided primarily by employers. Most employers engage in contract with private health plans. Most employer health plans cover workers and their dependents, and the majority offer a choice of several plans. Both employers and employees typically contribute to with premiums.

7.7 % of the U.S. population were uninsured in 2023.

Read more about the healthcare system in the United States here.

Cooperation between the U.S. and Denmark: Denmark and USA have established peer-to-peer cooperation at ministry and agency level within the health sector. The cooperation contributes to solving global health challenges by sharing experiences, best practices and public-private solutions within three priority areas: 1) Regulation of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, 2) Health innovation and data, and 3) Healthcare of tomorrow. The cooperation also serves as a platform for enhancing engagement of the Danish private sector in providing health sector solutions in the partner country.

The Danish-American health cooperation is led by the Ministry of the Interior and Health of Denmark and the Danish embassy in Washington in collaboration with the Danish Medicines Agency and Statens Serum Institut. American partners are: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under National Institutes for Health (NIH). The cooperation is financed under the Danish Strategy for Life Science. Moreover, the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Texas Medical Center.

Currently, the Danish side is exploring future opportunities for collaboration with other US partners, including the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Veteran Affairs (VA). Potential Danish agencies involved are the Danish Health Authority (DHA) and the Danish Health Data Agency (DHDA).