The Healthcare Problem Of The United States

Healthcare in the United States is a constant struggle. For generations the country has been in heated debate over the best approach to this unsettling issue. While many changes have been made, none seem to be effective enough to please and serve the country effectively. No matter what course is taken there is always a group, or groups of individuals who are left out and underserved. As a country we need to provide for all of our citizens to ensure healthy living and overall quality of life. Unfortunately, our society is based off of socioeconomic class. This becomes an issue in regards to healthcare requirements due to the fact that many poverty stricken families go throughout their lives with little or no coverage at all. For those in good financial standing healthcare is easily accessible, while the poor struggle and deal with illness in inhumane ways. Millions of American citizens are uninsured; this number includes all walks of life from children through the elderly. In order to overcome this devastating issue the American people have to come to a decision on how to care for all of our citizens so that no one is left out. In today’s society this has become an even more difficult task as we face an ongoing struggle within our economy, leaving many families in financial hardship.

Health care in America is a serious issue as it involves families that are unable to receive accessible, affordable and quality medical treatment. Middle class or impoverished families are unable to receive the benefits of health care due to low income levels and a volatile economy. Politicians discuss the reformation of the health care system, but people who are uninsured suffer the consequences of a system that overlooks middle class families in favor of wealthy families, a dominant issue for conflict theorists. Some argue that the health care system is not in need of reform and state that

“According to the report, titled Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010, 49.9 million Americans or 16.3 percent of the total US population had no health insurance in 2010. That percentage represents a slight increase on 2009’s figures, when 49 million citizens or 16.1 percent of the population was uninsured” (Gamser, 2011).

Because the United States spends the most on a health care system, one would think that most people in the U.S. would be healthy. This is not the case. Surprisingly, the United States does not have a particularly high life expectancy rate. Within this paper I will discuss heath issues in the United States including how heath effects behavior, economics, and social structure. I will also include key stages of medical technology development and population demographics.

Many ways are used to measure how much Americans values life. Obviously, good health is a major factor of being happy and satisfied with an Americans’ life. People also place family, friends, and owners potential is very high on the list of value for health care insurance. Health care has become the stress to every person’s life. Health care controls everything a person does due to the draw backsdrawbacks of not having it when it is necessary, like breaking an arm or coming down with a deathly illness. You have to introduce your quotations “Health care reform will be on the agenda for future sessions of Congress, because the economic pressures of rising health care costs on the federal government, business, and

Primary care is the backbone of many industrialized nations, but is the US one of them? Unfortunately, the answer is no. The US lags behind such developed nations in its accessibility of primary care by a huge difference. The United States healthcare system fails to ensure the timely preventative and primary care for its residents. The current estimates indicate that there is merely one physician for every 2,500 patients. Not only Medicare beneficiaries, but also privately insured adults struggle in accessing the right primary care physician at the right time. Moreover, maldistribution of physicians only exacerbates the problem, especially for those residing in health professional shortage areas (HPSA).15 Approximately, sixty-five million Americans live in designated primary care shortage areas.13 Such underserved population faces higher disease and death rates and health disparities that then result in higher rates of hospitalizations and emergency department visits—in other words, expensive medical bills.21 More governmental control on the geographic location of primary care physicians can be a first-step to fixing the shortage problem.

Identify and describe at least three of the most difficult issues facing health care in the United States today.

The American healthcare system is an ongoing ailment that is at the forefront of issues plaguing America. Unlike the rest of the world, the American healthcare system is a combination of several models that caters for distinct classes of people. Other countries, such as China and Switzerland, have adopted a one-size-fits-all model in which everyone falls under. This model is a more straightforward as well as cheaper approach to America's healthcare system.

When it comes to the U.S. healthcare system, there are two sides of the argument. Some Americans may argue that the U.S. healthcare system is the best in the world given the many state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and innovative and advanced medical technology available, and there are those who argue that it is too costly and inefficient on many different levels (Chua, 2006). Despite the large amount of spending invested on their healthcare system, the U.S. consistently underperforms on most indicators of performance compared to other countries (Davis, Stremikis, Squires, & Schoen, 2014). Healthcare costs such as doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs are more expensive in the U.S. than any other country in the world.

Improving the access and affordability of health insurance coverage for all Americans should be a primary concern for those who help create the laws of the land. At this date, there are roughly 44 million Americans without any type of healthcare coverage. Another 38 million people have inadequate health insurance (PBS, 2012). What this all means is that the people who need it the most are putting off seeing a doctor until last moment and then usually end up visiting an emergency room. If they cannot pay for the visit, the cost of that ER visit falls back on the taxpayers, people who have health

From the America Indian/Alaska Native Tribe who felt as though they were being underserviced, to African Americans who were receiving less or no healthcare service because of the color of their skin and whether or not whites receive better care than minorities when it came to receiving proper healthcare when admitted to a hospital for services.

The goal of the current American health care system is centered around making a profit. As discussed in both Health Care Meltdown and How We Do Harm, many doctors today are making a profit on over diagnosing and over charging, leaving patients with undesired care and little money. This system is not only straining practitioners and over treating patients, but drastically increasing the cost of care in America. As discussed in detail in each of the books, there are steps that can be taken to increase access to health care while decreasing expenditure.

Healthcare in the United States is rooted in the private sector. The private sector directly funds 56% of the expenditures through private health insurance, household expenditures and copays, and other private expenditures. (CMS, 2014) The US healthcare system can thank the private sector for providing much strength such as new diagnostic technologies, innovative treatments and procedures, and dynamism. American hospitals and physicians are regarded internationally as being of high quality. Americans can also be proud that the physician- patient relationship is among the most trusted and valued relationships in the country. By allowing the private sector to take a lead role in the healthcare system, the United States values

Healthcare in the United States of America is a tremendous asset for the American people. It is both a crucial and important factor that can ultimately decide their overall well-being and either prolong or shorten their lives. Setting aside the medical background of healthcare, what I found most impactful from Professor Lewis’s lecture and classes was the fact that healthcare in the United States is the largest economic driver. I always understood that healthcare was an enormous part of the American economy but I would have never expected it to be the single most influential financial resource. This demonstrated that the job market in the healthcare field has tremendous potential and openings in the future.

2007, the very beginning of the year, a boy died because of periodontitis. Periodontitis is very common disease with teeth that can be treated (“Dental”). Not only this case, a man pulled out all of his teeth because he had dental carries. The reason of these cases are money. Most people in United States would have to be in agony before going to hospital, or would not even go when they are so sick because it is so expensive. The system of medical insurance in US has so many problems. Many people cannot get medical service because they are poor, homeless, old and sick. The Health insurance problem in United States is always a hot topic. According to survey, “The survey covered 20,000 adults in the United States and 10 other industrial nations — Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain, all of which put in place universal or near-universal health coverage decades ago” (“The Shame”).