Health care system in the US is not universal and ‘out of pocket approach’ or private financing is applied. There is a mixture of both private as well as public spending. Coverage is mostly on employment basis as only a small proportion is covered by the Medicaid or government insurance. This health care is in contrast with what most European countries applies. Universal healthcare is the ideal healthcare system for US as it would ensure that medical care is provide to all regardless their tribe, race or ethnicity.
The US declaration of human rights article number 25 is quite categorical that ‘everyone has a right to a standard of living adequate for well being of himself and his family’ and that it is the role or responsibility of any government to provide healthcare that is affordable and accessible to her citizens. This is not respected or adhered to in the US. This paper will focus on describing the ideal US insurance system. The US federal government according to Bernard in his distinguished book ‘making sense of political ideology: the power of language in democracy’ only provides care for the aged or elderly, the poor, children and the disabled.However, many concerns are still raised as to how effective this system is in providing for this category of people as there is still a significant proportion that remains uncovered. The Institute of Medicine of National Academies estimates that approximately 18000 preventable deaths that occur each year in the US are attributed to the lack of health insurance.
(National Academy of Sciences, 2008). The current health care system by the World Health Organization (WHO) standards is ineffective and ought to be replaced with universal health care.It is very expensive and hence highly inaccessible especially to the minority groups who in most cases tend to have minimal education and hence have poor paying jobs. With the poor pay it is difficult to afford the necessities of life let alone quality health care. Most of their employers do not offer health insurance. The level of satisfaction is quite low according to most Americans especially those from the minority groups and this is a clear indication that their needs are not met in an adequate manner.
When compared to OCED countries which apply the universal health care approach the US health care system is ineffective as it records a relatively high mortality rate compared to other developed countries. Health care provided in the US is not comprehensive although it appears to be very expensive. Sometimes the US uses almost twice the amount used by some OCED countries. These high costs are blamed on the long bureaucratic procedures while submitting or even approving claims both in the private as well as government companies.
In such a system the healthcare providers are likely to be motivated by profits.This is a cause for alarm as the care offered will not be based on the need but on one’s ability to pay. Intensive commercialization in the health care sector is disastrous for the poor as the care providers may recommend care that is not necessarily the best for their medical conditions due to their financial well being. The government ought to provide health care services to her citizens to increase the coverage from the purported 27% to more than 90%.
Inability to pay should not be a factor deterring the sick from accessing quality as well as timely healthcare.In pursuit for liberty, equality and happiness America should offer universal health care. This would ensure that the over 42 million people who are either uninsured or underinsured are well catered for. A research by Commonwealth established that approximately 37% of people above 18 years failed to seek healthcare courtesy of their poor financial status. (Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey, 2004).
Progressive taxes can be applied as the most applicable means of financing the universal health care.This would be a fair way of ensuring that people contribute according to their ability to pay. As the saying goes ‘a healthy nation is a wealthy nation’ offering quality but accessible care would ensure that the economy is boosted. Place in ‘The health care crisis: as the number of uninsured grows, the money disappears’ noted that company’s investment decisions are influenced by the existing health care system. With the expensive health care system they will be forced to incur high costs that could have been done away with if the care was made universal.A company could for instance prefer to locate in Canada rather than in the US as it would raise its profit margins by cutting on costs.
Provision of universal health care would consequently be of an economic advantage to the country at large. An expenditure amounting to 10% of the total GNP on health care that only caters for less than 30% of the total population is not a wise idea and calls for urgent restructuring. Private provision of health care insurance is not only complex and expensive but also inaccessible. Healthcare insurance is provided for by employers who pay a certain proportion of the premiums for health coverage.This coverage is at times not comprehensive and it is voluntary in most cases, hindering patients from accessing affordable quality health care. Providing universal health care would help eliminate the wide gap between the haves and the have-nots in as far as accessibility of healthcare is concerned.
Equality would be enhanced. It would be a sure way of ensuring a comprehensive and portable coverage for all people in America. In most cases diseases tend to be cheaper treating before they advance or deteriorate necessitating the need for intensive care services. This is also a factor promoting increased costs of healthcare in the US.
Another factor that can be blamed for the high costs in the US health care system is the increasing aging population that causes higher demand for health care services. (University of Maine, 2001). Most insurance companies are likely to discriminate against the unhealthy individuals in the society so as to avoid liability. (Brown E, 2005).
While this is ‘only natural’ for any firm or company out to make profits it is quite unfair for the sick who would benefit from the health insurance. The current health care system sees many poor people succumb from diseases that could have otherwise been prevented had earlier intervention been observed.The Medicaid provided is restricted to mothers, pregnant women as well as the disabled and its effectiveness and efficiency is also quite debatable. (Cook D, 2004). A substantial proportion of the minority group remains uncovered despite their health needs. As the cost of healthcare rises the insurance rates are also increased and this leaves the employees with reduced disposable incomes and some end up withdrawing the insurance benefits a factor that worsens the accessibility of health care.
As noted by Byme and Rathwell, the US can save to a tune of 280 billion dollars in a year if it incorporated the universal health care system. The unnecessary costs incurred due to the wasteful inefficiencies would be eradicated, reducing the costs of healthcare while at the same time increasing the accessibility levels. The poor would be able to seek preventive measures and detection of diseases would be done at an early stage prompting swift action. The severity of epidemics as well as chronic health conditions would also be checked.Universal health care is criticized on the grounds that it would jeopardize the quality of care provided due to the fact that health care providers would not be motivated by profits to be more innovative. However, this can be countered by the fact that with increased investment towards quality care through modern technology the care provided would be effective despite the lack of profit incentives.
Quality but modern technology would reduce any purported inefficiencies in the system.Effective planning must be embraced given the fact that the federal finances are minimal in the face of numerous responsibilities. Standards must also be set to ensure that quality health care is provided as care providers might be reluctant in their work if the government takes control. Accountability must also be embraced so that efficiency and effectiveness is realized.
Vigorous training or creation of awareness is also very important to ensure that long queues do not arise due to the fact that healthcare is provided by the government.The government must invest in modern technologies especially in communication as this would ensure that costs are reduced. The internet can be used for bookings so that the issue of long queues is resolved. Proper record keeping must also be ensured so that retrieval is due in a timely manner. This will go along way to ensuring that unnecessary delays to accessing health care are done away with.
The service care providers would be paid by the government as they would all be its civil servants if the universal health care was adopted.Job groups can be applied to ensure that people are paid according to their qualifications and the set pay standards. However incentives can be applied to enhance or rather ensure that the employees are motivated, those who contribute greatly can be awarded. Universal health care can be financed through the combined efforts of the federal government, the various state governments, employers and providers. Individuals especially the self employed can also be incorporated as they are not included in the employers section.Taxes will contribute greatly to financing this plan or system but to ensure that they are not a cause of increased inequalities between the rich and the poor equitable taxes should be applied.
Premium payments can be reduced to a given percentage of income to ensure that people pay according to their ability to pay. Equity will be ensured in the funding of this health care. The poor especially those with no incomes will have the government cater for them. Benefits of this ideal health care system to the public will be numerous.
With the increased accessibility to quality and affordable health care the general population will of course gain in as far as their health is concerned. The over 40 million people that are currently underinsured or uninsured will be able to access health care services. Deaths that could have otherwise been prevented if early intervention was sought will be minimized to a large extent. People will no longer seek medical attention as a last option due to the lack of affordability and this will reduce the high flow of patients seeking emergency room services.
