The Increase Of Healthcare Expenditure

It is no secret that the cost of American healthcare is becoming increasingly more expensive. However, the issue of the rising cost of healthcare and its severity needs to be recognized as a major problem. Health prices are steadily increasing in the United States, and there is no sign of it stopping. Since 1970, spending on American health care has grown 9.8%, which is a rate that is growing faster than the economy (“New Technology”.) Furthermore, health insurance premiums are also increasing at a rate five times faster than American salaries, which makes it difficult for families to afford health care coverage (Zuckerman 28). Therefore, it has become an obligation to address why the cost of American health care is soaring and to seek out a solution to lower the cost. Many would jump to the conclusion that the United States simply charges too much for their medical services, but there are deeper influences that need to be analyzed. The causes of the rising cost of health care are people not using preventive health care, the development of modern technology, and the treatments being overprescribed. A possible solution is to have preventive health care services available in clinics of low-income areas.

There have been many studies performed focusing on the rising costs of health care and some of the findings state that the rising cost of healthcare premiums is a worldwide problem. However, I believe they are higher in the U.S. In 2015, U.S. health care costs were $3.2 trillion. That makes healthcare one of the largest U.S. industries, equaling 17.8 % of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in comparison to the late 1960s; where healthcare costs were only $27 billion, or 5% of the GDP, which averaged $9,990 per person each year. The main reason for the rising cost of healthcare is a combination of government policies and lifestyles changes. Examples included lack of coverage or costly coverage, lack of available coverage for

Life expectancy has increased over the last century. With this greater survival rate, there needs to be an increase in the rate of spending for Medicare. Despite what one does to improve their health behavior, the need for medical care cultivates as one ages. This need will continue to increase significantly as medicine continues to modernize.

The high cost of healthcare continues to rise and many in the United States are optimistic for health information technology to reduce and improve our current situation. Health IT encompasses a broad array of new technologies designed to manage and share health-related information. When properly implemented, these systems can help coordinate patient care, reduce medical errors, and improve administrative efficiency. Therefore, implementing a Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) will help the National Health Information Network (NHIN) achieve their goals in improving quality of care for the citizens of the United States. Thus, in order for the health IT to deliver on its promise, several obstacles must be overcome.

The Role of Technology in Rising Health Care Costs. What should or shouldn’t be done.

“The amount people pay for health insurance increased 30 percent from 2001 to 2005, while income for the same period of time only increased 3 percent.” (Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation). The rising cost of healthcare is a huge problem in America today. In this paper I will analyze the different issues and causes for the increase in cost.

Like many healthcare systems around the world, Australia has a complex system in place for the funding healthcare to meet the needs of its citizens. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), in 2011-12 Australia spent an estimated $140.2 billion on healthcare, accounting for approximately 9.5% of the gross domestic product (AIHW, 2014). Australia has seen substantial growth in the cost of healthcare over the last decade due to an aging population, increased prevalence of chorionic conditions, changes in personal incomes, technology, and other economic trends (AIHW, 2014). Government sources account for the bulk of all healthcare funding, with the Australian Government contributing 42.4%, and state and territory

Over the past 30 years, the American healthcare system has been afflicted by the continuous rise of healthcare cost. One of the reasons for the increase in healthcare cost is that in today’s society people are living longer lives than they did in the past and the prevalence rates of contracting chronic diseases and developing life threatening injuries are causing the United States healthcare system to suffer a financial crisis. Another reason for the rise in healthcare cost includes but is not limited to expensive hospital visits, complex procedures, and cost of prescriptions. Consumers find several ways to reduce healthcare cost for the insured and uninsured individuals. Some patients questioned where

The four components of the United States health care system dramatically vary from the components of the health care system in Australia. The health care system of Australia is classified as a national health care system. Unlike the United States, Australia’s health care system is referred to as a single-payer system or a system that is governed by a single central agency; the Australian government. The government finances health care through the means of general taxes, even though health care is delivered by private providers. The benefit of a central agency governing the health care system is that it eliminates the complexity by eliminating components that exists in the multi-payer system of the United States health care system. Although the citizens of the United States are free to choose the method of obtaining health care, countless individuals are left without any means of health care.

There is no doubt that healthcare cost are rising out of control. No one likes the

Australians over the age of seventy-five are participants in the Medicare Gold Policy meaning they receive a gold colored Medicare Card as part of Labor’s Pledge to give people free hospital services. By having brand new hospitals built is a pleasure for many in which it prevents public hospitals facilities from being clogged up. One of Ms. Gillard team members developed a new and approved policy which played a huge responsibility for elderly people. She expects this new policy to reduce waiting lists and terminate five hundred millions annually unreliable resources. The Labor Plan states that people needing immediate treatment would receive care at the same rate they do now although the plan does not included health fees including dental or physical therapy. Australian’s over the age limit have the option to take out their insurance to help cover certain services they need. Under the current system more than fifteen percent of Australians with health insurance paid a fee out of pocket that includes extra items in their rooms such as personal entertainment systems or their own private hospital rooms. Ms. Gillard proposed that many Australians compete well at going against extra cost but, they would ensure the fee to have those special type of

This assessment explores the changing nature and role of Medicare in Australia. It examines the health provisions available to Australian’s under this scheme and then compares this with the current health system in the US. This comparison reveals the importance of having universal health care and highlights the problems which would arise if changes to Australia’s system were made.

There is no doubt that healthcare cost are rising out of control. No one likes the

Due to the increase of life span, those aging Australian with chronic disease have to bear the high cost of healthcare expenses. The expensiveness of medical expenses in Australia is growing the burden of those elderly individual who lost the ability to work. Generally, chronic diseases are preventable by obtaining through living style and

In Australia, the health care expenditure consists of hospital, medical, and pharmaceutical costs which are provided for via the government through government policy (Ellis, Fiebig, Johar, Jones, & Savage, 2013). In Australia every citizen has access to a universal public health system known as Medicare (Ellis, et al. 2013). The Medicare package includes full cover for public inpatient care in public hospitals, and comprehensively subsidises the cost of prescription drugs as well as the majority of private medical care provided both in-hospital and out-of-hospital (Ellis, et al. 2013). Both general practitioners and specialists fees are unregulated, Medicare pays for their services on a fee for service basis (Ellis, et al. 2013). The ratio of the public contribution to total health expenditure has been constant at around 70% (Ellis, et al. 2013). The national total health expenditure was $124 billion, of which $116 billion was recurrent in 2009/2010. The recurrent expenditure consisted of 31% being spent on public hospitals, 19% on medical services and 14% on pharmaceuticals (Ellis, et al. 2013).