Government Funded Health Care Programs

Money plays a huge role in access, therefore it is a vital issue to discuss. Within the current system, lack of money results in lack of health care, which leaves thousands of people without any health care coverage. Between 2001 and 2005, the number of people paying for health insurance increased 30%, however income only raised 3% (Health Care Problems). Adequate income is a necessity and unfortunately that is not present. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the average annual premium across the country is $16,000. Currently, the average annual income in the United States is $51,107. Mint Money Management suggests that about 4-6% of one’s total income should be spent on insurance, including life, disability, and health insurance. However, the averages in the United States show that the average person spends about 31% of their income on health insurance, which is not financially beneficial. When this rise in health insurance is not parallel to the inflation of income, innocent people are left without a method to achieve health care. There is a program for those who can’t afford health insurance out of pocket nor have access to it, and that is called Medicaid. Issues still exist with the program. There is only so much funding, which leaves many still uninsured. Additionally, people with Medicaid have difficulty

For those adults with children that are not eligible for Medicaid but their income is not enough for private insurance, KidsCare was an option until it froze in January 2010 due to a cost-cutting effort. KidsCare is a state sponsored insurance program for low-income families that is part of the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Arizona is currently the only state that does not have a CHIP program which forces families that were on the program to partake in the health care exchange and pay for private insurance or forgo health coverage and be uninsured (Whiteman, M., 2014). The number of children covered at the time of the program freeze went from 45,000 to about 2,000, which was a ninety-five percent drop (Whiteman, M., 2014). Governor Jan Brewer proposed to restore coverage to thousand of children through KidsCare II, where Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Maricopa Integrated Health System, and the University of Arizona Health Network would pull money together and receive extra federal funds. The federal funds that the

The federal and state governments are the largest supporters of health care services in the United States. Examples of support that our government provides include assisting those who are in need of health care with numerous options such as Medicare and Medicaid, the employment of millions of people, and billions of dollars each year for new discoveries, treatments, and cures. The government does indeed offer great assistance with programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, two of the largest programs that the government is involved in. Not only does the government provide those who are in need with Medicare and Medicaid, but there is also the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs provided by the government are there to help those who cannot afford insurance. Insurance is not affordable to many families due to the economy and I feel that just because a family or an individual cannot afford insurance does not mean they should not be able to

Many of the uninsured or underinsured are low-income or working families. According to the Kaiser foundation, “…adults are more likely to be uninsured than children. People of color are at higher risk of being uninsured than non-Hispanic Whites” See Appendix 1 (Kaiser Foundation, n.d.). Many Americans therefore go without needed health care each year due to the cost alone. These are the people with chronic diseases that need preventative services that may prove to reduce cost in the long run. With the economy failing the added depression and stress helps to hinder good health.

The Issue is that physician payments in Medicare and Medicaid, are already well below the prevailing rates in the private sector. On the average, physicians who take Medicare are paid 81 percent of private payment. Doctors who take Medicaid are paid 56 percent of private payment. This type of payment plan (Obamacare) has resulted in access problems for Medicare patients, and the even lower Medicaid payments have already caused serious access problems for lower-income people and made hospital emergency room overcrowded. During recent research study on the The Affordable Care Act they found that 67 percent of primary care physicians said that under current laws and conditions new Medicaid enrollees will not be able to find “suitable primary care

There are countless significant factors that affect this problem, although most of them are society and the way that they portray their predetermined biases to the poor or anyone who is struggling. The only way to alleviate these issues is to continue to educate the people in hopes that future generations will rectify the wrong of the past. Nevertheless, we can orchestrate some ways to lessen the burden of the underserved from listening to their needs, for instance, lack of transportation, including travel time, and safety to and from the physician’s office would allow many to truly have the ability to utilize their insurance. Another issue is clinic and appointment wait time, inability to pay co-pays or prescription fees, knowledge of benefits, and the poor treatment they receive from front office staff and medical assistance due to their insurance status (Freed, Hansberry, & Arrieta). Recipients of employee based commercial insurance can’t possibly understand the difficulties that the poverty stricken population endure just trying to use their insurance and due to this there is no empathy or response to these struggles. The common belief system in America is that everybody is given the same opportunity and if you are struggling, it is your own fault. This is a complete, nonsensical way of thinking.

The federal government could play a great role in the availability/access to health care throughout our nation. For example, providing “free clinics” to regions that are heavily populated by residents with partial income, no health insurance, and who are not eligible for other government aid programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. These “free clinics” can be subjected to malpractice lawsuits, yet according to Wikipedia, “Free clinics can be granted medical malpractice coverage through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). FTCA coverage includes health care professionals who are acting as volunteers.” (Free Clinics, 2015) Another way the government can allow better access to health care is to offer subsidies for urgent cares to operate in low income areas. I found the need for government assistance in this area very important over the information I obtained on a web gazette entitled Poor Health.

As humans, the right to medical care is something that should be seen as a privilege. No one should have to worry about if they are able to receive the healthcare that they require. Everyone has the right to receive the care that they should need. The only way to provide equal care for everyone in America is if healthcare were to be free. Though many countries around the world are able to provide free healthcare, this is something that is unfortunately not possible for all countries. There would be many issues that would arise if free healthcare were provided here in America. Due to the fact that quality care would be difficult to find, taxes would be increased, and much more, health care should not be free.

The Medicaid program is a federal health insurance program for the under-privileged and incapacitated. The plan is managed by states within comprehensive limits instituted by the federal government. Together the federal and state governments finance the program, with the federal share ranging from 50 percent to 74 percent. Now Medicaid currently makes up 7 percent of the federal budget and 23.7 percent of all state expenses. Approximately sixty million people are enrolled in the Medicaid program and 400 million is spent annually.

Even though Medicaid is a health insurance program for low income individuals, having coverage does not guarantee access to a physician and many of these patients are going without needed care (American College of Physicians, 2015). In the past Medicaid has been known to pay well below what private insurance and Medicare pays for primary care services and is one of the top reasons many providers do not participate in Medicaid (American College of Physicians, 2015). “In 47 other states Medicare pays up to 67% less than Medicare for the same primary care services” (American College of Nurse-Midwives, 2015). A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine states that

Medicaid is both an extremely important and costly government program. The program provides medical care for those who cannot afford it and also for the elderly and the disabled. Over 69 million people were provided medical assistance through Medicaid in the fiscal year of 2011 (Herz). Medical attention is very expensive but is also something that every human being needs. Some people are individually wealthy enough to afford medical insurance. Most people are provided medical insurance through their employer. So what are those people who are unemployed and not independently wealthy supposed to do? If you have no job you have no insurance through your employer

The area that you live in should provide a facility that has a doctor or two that accepts Medicaid for its locals. This makes your community healthier since people that have no transportation or help can still be seen. By having this in local areas, many feel more comfortable about going in to see a doctor.

Medicaid is a government program paid by the taxpayer to help people with low incomes pay for medical costs. If the average tax payer has to pay for someone else's medical bills then there should be direction from the government to the public on how to be and stay active and healthy.

Health Care, like all other services comes at a financial cost. While we should strive to make health care available and affordable to all, the bottom line is that it is a service that can only be provided if the voting populous agrees on its need. Basic human rights do not cost money. We have the right to life and liberty which is great and we do not have to pay for it. We have the right to basic medical care as well. But we can only have that if other people

Have you ever wondered exactly what the government does for our country in regards to health care? Many have the impression that the government is not really of much assistance to them. However, in reality, the government does more than most people realize. The government actually plays a vital role in health care but most people look past it. I am sure very few people have actually sat down and pondered or even have done research to find out the impact of the government’s role in health care. However, I intend to clear up this misconception. The federal and state governments are the largest supporters of health care services in the United States. Examples of support that our government provides include assisting those