The United
States is regarded as one of the most developed, advanced, and industrialized
country in the world. Despite of the country’s thriving economy however, the
U.S. health care system seems to be lagging behind. Unlike other important
aspects such as transportation, education and security, this country’s health
care is tragically and unfortunately dysfunctional and corrupt. One of its
looming problems includes the sky-high cost of hospital services and treatments
as well as health insurance. Numerous Americans are now complaining about the
cost while more and more citizen admitted that they could not afford their
country’s expensive health care system. In fact, there is an estimated 46.6
million individuals who do not have any health insurance. On top of this, about
62% of all bankruptcies were directly linked to medical bills (DPE, 2012, p.1).
The high cost of
hospital services and treatments seem to top the list of US health care
dysfunction. Today, health care proves to be more concerned about maximizing
income rather than maximizing an individual’s health. This is evident in ever
growing rate of hospital care and treatment. An emergency appendectomy for
instance, would easily cause an uninsured individual, almost $24,500. On the
other hand, a patient who needs to undergo a surgery will have to shoulder more
than $100,000 in medical and hospital bills alone. Similarly, medical excesses
such as unnecessary laboratory tests and procedures drive a person’s medical
bill even higher. There also seems to be an increasing number of unscrupulous
doctors who fatten their bills by exploiting their patient’s ignorance
(Realitybase, 2009, p. 1)
Another
noteworthy dysfunction of U.S.’ health care system is the rising premium and
uneven coverage of health insurance. Over the years, insurance premiums have
soared to an all-time high but the quality of their policies continues to fail.
This is but a direct result of the existing conflict between providing the
member their rightful benefits and earning profits for the company. Various
accounts suggest that employees of different insurance companies are given
bonuses based on the lowest health care benefit they approve. Apart from this,
insurance companies also cause unnecessary suffering and even death because of
their denial and delay procedures (Realitybase, 2009, p. 1).
These problems
call for immediate and sustainable solution. One of which is a national health
service wherein medical services are delivered by government-paid doctors and
medical professionals. This would also include government-owned and operated hospitals
and clinics. Similarly, a national health insurance system could be a possible answer
to the current health care crisis. In this type of system, a government entity
will function as the administrator who will collect and pay out all the health
care fees and costs. This means that health services will be publicly financed
but not publicly provided. Another possible solution is to offer a multi-payer
insurance system which offers health insurance through a unified “health fund”.
This can be used to pay hospitals and doctors as well. Finally, the government
could ease the dilemma in health care by simply providing affordable health
care services. This could be achieved by mandating hospitals to lower their
fees and treatments. Similarly, the government could help publicly and
privately owned hospitals and clinic in negotiating the amount of medical
equipment and prescription drugs in return for a lower treatment fee (DPE,
2012, p.1).
Solving the
current health care dysfunctions will definitely help not only the pockets of
many Americans but it will also improve their health as well. At the same time,
improving the medical system will also allow the United States to become truly
advanced and developed when it comes to health care services (DPE, 2012, p.1).
Cited
Works
Department of
Professional Employees (2012). The U.S.
health care system: An international
perspective. Retrieved 3
January 2013 from http://dpeaflcio.org/the-u-s-health-care-
system-an-international-perspective/
Reality Base (12
October 2009). The Dysfunction and
Corruption of our Health care system.
Retrieved
3 January 2013, from http://www.realitybase.org/journal/2009/10/12/the
dysfunction-and-corruption-of-our-healthcare-system-its.html.
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