In South Korea, the government supports the health and medical expenses of all citizens through the National Health Insurance system. In contrast, the United States is known for its high medical costs and lacks a single, government-funded health insurance program. Without private insurance, receiving medical care at hospitals can be extremely difficult. This stems from the unique structure of the U.S. healthcare system. Characteristics of the U.S. Healthcare System One defining feature of the U.S. healthcare system is the separation between physicians and hospitals . Unlike South Korea, where doctors are affiliated with specific hospitals, in the U.S., physicians use hospital facilities but are not necessarily employees of the hospital. As a result, when receiving treatment at a U.S. hospital, patients typically receive separate billing statements: one for the physician's services and another for hospital facility usage. Because doctors and hospitals operate separately, insuran...