Healthcare Access
Countries with Universal Healthcare 2026
Universal Healthcare
Yes
Universal Healthcare
72 countries
Country | Universal Healthcare↓ | UHC Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | India | Yes | India has a mixed healthcare system, with a large private sector. The Constitution guarantees universal coverage, which is administered by the states, but quality and access vary. |
 | China | Yes | China has three insurance programs that, together, cover over 97% of its citizens; however, most services require copayments. |
 | Indonesia | Yes | In 2014, Indonesia introduced a national health insurance scheme known as Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN), which expanded coverage from approximately 56% to over 90% of its population. However, the rollout has been slow, and significant gaps in care still remain. |
 | Pakistan | Yes | Pakistan has a mixed public and private healthcare system, which covers most of the population; however, access varies by province and region. |
 | Brazil | Yes | Brazil offers free healthcare to all citizens, residents, and visitors through its publicly funded healthcare system, the Sistema Único de Saúde. |
 | Russia | Yes | All citizens in Russia have the right to free healthcare and are covered by mandatory health insurance. However, the quality of the government healthcare system is very poor. Major problems include insufficient funding, old equipment, long wait times, and poor organization. |
 | Mexico | Yes | The Seguro Popular program, which provided much of Mexico’s universal healthcare, was discontinued in 2020, just as the global pandemic hit. It has been gradually replaced by a new system called Insabi, but coverage and access remain challenges. |
 | Japan | Yes | Residents in Japan who have been there for more than three months are required to enroll in a government-allocated health insurance program. All services require copays. |
 | Egypt | Yes | In 2018, Egypt ratified a universal healthcare law and is slowly moving toward full coverage. A new law in 2024 aims to privatize certain public health facilities, potentially affecting access and affordability. |
 | Philippines | Yes | All Filipinos are automatically enrolled in the PhilHealth system, which reimburses them for healthcare costs. Expats in the Philippines can also join the system for a fee. |
 | Turkey | Yes | Turkey provides healthcare to all citizens through a national insurance system. Expats who have lived in Turkey for at least a year can join the national insurance by paying a monthly fee. |
 | Germany | Yes | As part of the Bismarck model, Germany requires all residents to purchase a non-profit health insurance plan, known as a “sickness fund.” |
 | Thailand | Yes | Thailand has three public health insurance programs that, combined, cover all citizens. Thai citizens get free healthcare at the point of service, but expats must have private insurance. |
 | United Kingdom | Yes | The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is famous worldwide for providing free healthcare to residents and citizens. While the NHS has faced significant challenges in recent years, this original Beveridge system remains a model for universal healthcare worldwide. |
 | France | Yes | Individuals residing in France for more than three months are required to enroll in the country’s healthcare system, which features limited copays for most services. |
 | South Africa | Yes | Until recently, South Africa had a mixed public and private healthcare system that covered all citizens and residents, including expats and refugees. In 2024, a new law will be implemented to end the private sector. This change is controversial, and the effects on healthcare are uncertain. |
 | Italy | Yes | Italy’s SSN provides free primary care visits and hospital care, but all patients must pay copays for specialist visits, tests, and prescription medications. |
 | Colombia | Yes | Colombia has a mixed public and private system that covers over 97% of the population and has low out-of-pocket costs. Expats can also access the public system. |
 | South Korea | Yes | With a few exceptions, all residents must pay into the National Health Insurance System. After six months in South Korea, residents are automatically enrolled. They also pay small fees when they receive medical care, but costs are generally low. |
 | Algeria | Yes | Algeria uses a National Health Insurance model. Hospital care is free for residents. The CNAS insurance program covers most salaried workers and their families, while CASNOS covers non-salaried workers, and the National Unemployment Insurance Fund covers unemployed individuals. |
 | Spain | Yes | Spain’s Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) is a Beveridge system, similar to the UK’s NHS. Legal residents can register for free healthcare, which includes free doctor visits and most tests, services, and procedures at no charge. |
 | Argentina | Yes | Argentina has a mix of public healthcare, social security, and private insurance that covers most of its citizens. All residents can access free healthcare at public facilities. |
 | Canada | Yes | Canada employs a National Health Insurance model in which provinces and territories run healthcare services. Each province must cover certain hospital care, lab tests, and doctor visits, but beyond that, each province or territory differs significantly. |
 | Morocco | Yes | Morocco offers universal public healthcare, but many patients are required to pay copays for services. |
 | Malaysia | Yes | All citizens and legal residents of Malaysia are required to pay a small fee to access healthcare services through the public healthcare system. |
 | Ghana | Yes | The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was launched in 2003 and provides most healthcare services for Ghanaians. |
 | Peru | Yes | Peru has a mixed public healthcare system that covers nearly 99% of its residents, including foreign residents. However, this fragmented system can lead to inefficiencies and long wait times for services. |
 | Australia | Yes | Australia’s Medicare system is based on National Health Insurance. It provides free hospital care for all Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents enrolled in the program. |
 | North Korea | Yes | North Korea claims to provide universal healthcare, but access and quality are limited in practice. |
 | Burkina Faso | Yes | Burkina Faso implemented its Universal Health Insurance Scheme in 2023. The implementation is still in progress, and the country is facing several challenges along the way. |
 | Sri Lanka | Yes | Sri Lanka offers free healthcare to all citizens through a government-run system. However, due to economic issues, the public healthcare system struggles with a lack of supplies and resources. |
 | Taiwan | Yes | Taiwan has a robust single-payer healthcare system called National Health Insurance (NHI), which covers nearly all residents. However, it is currently strained by budget cuts and an aging population. Those living in Taiwan for more than six months must enroll in NHI. |
 | Chile | Yes | Chile’s Universal Access with Explicit Guarantees (AUGE) began in 2006 to provide healthcare for all Chileans. This system includes both private and public options. Expats who are legal residents and pay taxes can use the public healthcare system in Chile. |
 | Romania | Yes | Romania has a state-run universal healthcare system that covers all residents, including expats. However, it often ranks low among European countries in terms of healthcare quality and access, especially in rural areas, which face numerous challenges |
 | Netherlands | Yes | The Netherlands uses a Bismarck model of mandatory health insurance for all, with copays and deductibles for many services. |
 | Rwanda | Yes | Although Rwanda is a small country with a difficult recent history, the WHO describes it as “the beacon of Universal Health Coverage in Africa.” As of early 2023, over 90% of the population was covered, and access to primary care has improved significantly. |
 | Tunisia | Yes | Tunisia has a national insurance system that provides coverage for public healthcare and some private facilities to all citizens. For most services, patients typically contribute a 20% copayment, which accounts for more than half of the country’s total healthcare spending. |
 | Belgium | Yes | Belgium also uses the Bismarck model. While it has relatively high healthcare costs compared to other European countries, it provides comprehensive coverage. |
 | Cuba | Yes | Cuba provides free healthcare to all citizens at government-run facilities. |
 | Sweden | Yes | Like Spain, New Zealand, and the U.K., Sweden has a Beveridge system with state-run healthcare. However, it is not free at the point of service. Most patients pay fees for doctor visits, hospital care, and other services. They are exempt from further copayments once they reach the maximum out-of-pocket cost for the year. |
 | Czechia | Yes | Eligible residents are required to purchase a health insurance plan, and patients are charged a small fee at the time of service. |
 | Portugal | Yes | Portugal’s national healthcare system, the SNS, is well-regarded and steadily improving. Most services require copays at the point of service. |
 | Greece | Yes | Greece has transitioned from a Bismarck model to a National Health Insurance model; however, residents still report high out-of-pocket costs. Almost all Greek visas require proof of health insurance. |
 | Israel | Yes | The National Health Insurance Law of 1995 established universal healthcare in Israel; however, patients are facing increasing copays for services. |
 | Austria | Yes | Austria utilizes a Bismarck-style healthcare system that offers universal coverage. Health insurance is mandatory for anyone staying in the country for longer than six months. |
 | Switzerland | Yes | Like Germany, Austria, and other countries with a Bismarck system, all residents of Switzerland must purchase health insurance. They can choose their plans and deductible options and typically pay small fees for most medical services. |
 | Hong Kong | Yes | Hong Kong has a public healthcare system based on the Beveridge model alongside a robust private healthcare system. Most public healthcare requires copayments. |
 | Bulgaria | Yes | Bulgaria’s law mandates universal and free health insurance coverage for all citizens and residents. However, challenges with implementation and funding make access difficult for many citizens. |
 | Serbia | Yes | Serbia requires participation in its national insurance system and offers free healthcare at the point of service for citizens, permanent residents, and some temporary residents. |
 | Denmark | Yes | The Danish government automatically enrolls all residents of Denmark in the national health insurance program, which provides free healthcare. |
 | Singapore | Yes | Citizens and permanent residents of Singapore are required to have a medical savings plan and health insurance to cover major health issues. The government runs many hospitals and controls medicine prices, which keeps out-of-pocket prices relatively low for patients. Read more about Singapore’s healthcare system. |
 | Norway | Yes | All Norwegian taxpayers are part of the healthcare system, regardless of their citizenship status. Members pay a maximum of approximately $200 per year, after which the government covers all additional healthcare costs. |
 | Finland | Yes | Finland employs a Beveridge model, where municipalities provide the majority of healthcare. All permanent residents are eligible to enroll in the healthcare system. |
 | Ireland | Yes | Ireland covers all citizens, but healthcare isn’t free for everyone. The country is working toward a fully universal and free health system called Sláintecare, which is expected to be implemented by 2030. |
 | New Zealand | Yes | New Zealand’s Beveridge model requires copays for primary care visits and medications, but hospital care is free of charge. If you are injured in an accident, medical care is free for everyone, including tourists and visitors. |
 | Costa Rica | Yes | All citizens and residents of Costa Rica are required to pay a premium to participate in the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) insurance program, which offers free healthcare at the point of service. |
 | Kuwait | Yes | Kuwait offers free healthcare for its citizens, but long wait times often lead residents to seek private providers. |
 | Croatia | Yes | All residents are required to participate in the mandatory health insurance program and pay small copays for healthcare services. |
 | Georgia | Yes | In 2013, Georgia initiated a transition to universal healthcare through a national health insurance model; however, the process is still ongoing, and high out-of-pocket payments persist as a challenge. |
 | Albania | Yes | All citizens have a constitutional right to health insurance. However, due to a shortage of medical personnel, an informal system of out-of-pocket payments for services has developed. |
 | Botswana | Yes | In Botswana, hospital care, laboratory tests, and medications are free for citizens at public facilities, which account for 98% of the country’s healthcare services |
 | Trinidad and Tobago | Yes | Residents of Trinidad and Tobago can receive free primary healthcare at government-run healthcare facilities. However, specialist treatment and prescription medications may require a fee. |
 | Mauritius | Yes | Mauritius offers free primary healthcare to all residents. |
 | Bhutan | Yes | Bhutan’s constitution mandates free healthcare for all citizens. Tourists can also receive free healthcare at some facilities, but healthcare options are limited. |
 | Macau | Yes | All citizens and residents are entitled to free healthcare if they possess a valid identification. |
 | Luxembourg | Yes | The government covers some costs directly to the provider, but in many cases, patients must submit their bills for reimbursement and also incur some out-of-pocket expenses. |
 | Suriname | Yes | A law passed in 2014 guarantees basic healthcare for all citizens. Healthcare is free for citizens under 16 and over 60. While health conditions have improved, Suriname is still developing and has limited resources. |
 | Maldives | Yes | The national health insurance program provides free healthcare to all Maldivians. |
 | Bahamas | Yes | NHI Bahamas provides free primary and preventive care to all residents, including registered expats. However, many services are still not covered, so expats often need private insurance. |
 | Iceland | Yes | Iceland’s healthcare system follows the Beveridge model, with patients paying limited fees at the time of service. |
 | Seychelles | Yes | Primary healthcare is free for all citizens. |
 | Liechtenstein | Yes | Liechtenstein provides universal healthcare through a compulsory insurance system, similar to other Bismarck models. |
 | Saudi Arabia | The government of Saudi Arabia provides free universal healthcare to all citizens. This system includes hospitals and clinics, but some services may have long wait times. Expats usually need private health insurance because they are not covered by the public healthcare system. | |
 | United Arab Emirates | Turkey provides healthcare to all citizens through a national insurance system. Expats who have lived in Turkey for at least a year can join the national insurance by paying a monthly fee. | |
 | Slovenia | Slovenia’s healthcare system is mainly funded by public health insurance. It offers a range of medical services, including hospital care and preventive care, with minimal out-of-pocket expenses. | |
 | Bahrain | Bahrain transitioned from a Beveridge model to a more mixed approach that includes elements of National Health Insurance. It offers universal healthcare to citizens, providing many free services; however, expats typically require private health insurance. | |
 | Cyprus | The General Healthcare System (GeSY) covers all residents, offering a wide range of medical services funded through taxation. Residents can receive care without significant out-of-pocket costs, including several free annual primary visits. | |
 | Brunei | Brunei offers free healthcare to all its citizens and residents. The government mainly funds this healthcare system. It is known for its high quality and offers various services, including preventive care and specialized treatments, all at no cost to Bruneians. |
- The UHC Service Coverage Index measures how well a country provides essential health services across four areas: reproductive/maternal/child health, infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases, and health-system capacity/access. WHO combines 14 tracer indicators into a score from 0 to 100 using a weighted geometric mean. Higher scores are better.
- The CEOWORLD 2024 classification provides a binary Yes/No classification of countries considered to have a universal health coverage program, based on its stated criterion that such programs provide accessible healthcare services to more than 90% of the population.
Access to quality health care varies greatly by country. According to the World Health Organization, half of the world’s people lack access to the health care they need. To address this shortcoming, many countries implement government-funded universal health care systems, also called universal health coverage, which offer health care to more than 90% of a country’s citizens. In addition to providing almost every citizen with health care, universal health care systems are government-regulated, which ensures the care given is high-quality and affordable, so it does not inflict financial hardship on the patient. In most cases, health care through universal health care programs is free or very low cost to all citizens, regardless of their income.
Dozens of countries have some form of universal health care policies in place, but the specific implementation varies greatly from one nation to the next. The U.K. has completely free health care provided through public facilities owned by the government. Germany has a government fund that pays for coverage from private doctors and hospitals. Many countries have a blended public/private system to maximize both access and comprehensiveness. For example, South Korea, whose health care system is often considered the best in the OECD, has a universal health care system that covers up to 60% of all medical expenses—and which 77% of South Koreans supplement with private insurance to cover the remaining expenses.
Brazil is arguably the model for universal health care: Any person in Brazil—from citizens to tourists, refugees, and undocumented immigrants—is eligible to receive free and immediate medical care in whatever form they need, from primary care to surgery to prescription medications, with no previous application or paperwork necessary.
