Provision of health care in the United States is not universal unlike in most other developed countries. It is based on an ‘out of pocket funding’ approach. The government only provides health care for approximately 27% of the total population which consists of the poor, children and the aged. Employers provide insurance to their employees by paying a certain proportion of their income to insurance companies as premiums but since this is not compulsory a large proportion of the population mostly from the minority races is not covered.This is contrary to the UN declaration of human rights which categorically states that it should be the role of any government to provide health care services for her citizens. There are over 40 million Americans who are either uninsured or underinsured in America.
This paper will focus on discussing the features of an ideal health care system in US where issues like its benefits to the society at large will be highlighted but not before highlighting the flaws that necessitate the change. The current health care system is characterized by many flaws and thus the need for reform.Using the World Heath Organization (WHO) standards to gauge its performance one can clearly state that it is ineffective and inefficient. One of the important factors to consider is cost where by the care offered ought to be affordable to the citizens. High costs should not deter people from accessing quality and timely health care.
Accessibility is another core issue to consider when assessing a health care system. An effective health care system is one where all people have equal accessibility to quality health care and one’s financial status does not affect one’s acquisition of health care services.An effective health system according to WHO is one that meets the needs and expectations of her citizens and this can be seen by their positive response regarding their health care system. (University of Maine, 2001). The current health care system creates loopholes that make it too expensive for most people.
The high costs are blamed on the administrative costs and the use of new and modern technology. These aggravated costs ensure that many people only seek medical assistance as a last resort and this can be bore witness by the large numbers of people seeking emergency care services.Such services are more expensive and this only adds salt to the injury given the plight of the poor uninsured Americans. According to a research by the University of Maine, US health care is the most expensive when compared to other OCED countries. (University of Maine, 2001). At times the US spends almost twice what such countries spend yet the system has so many flaws.
The research also established that US registered a higher rate in as far as infant mortality rates were concerned when compared with other OCED countries.The increased rate of uncovered people is a clear indication of the high levels of inaccessibility in the US health care system. According to Annie E. Casey Foundation website the poor uninsured and underinsured suffer drastically from the illnesses and they attain little or no treatment at all. This makes them feel left out by the same society they claim to be part of. They lack proper transportation, have poor housing and sanitation and ultimately some die from disease that could have been treated if early intervention was sought.
(Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2007).The government based cover or the provision of Medicaid is also insufficient as it only caters for a small percentage of people in need of medical care. (Place D, 2005).
People in low paying jobs are not eligible to Medicaid and this is quite unfair given the high costs of health care. With the little pay they can barely afford the basic needs let alone health care. (Cook, 2004). Some people call off or rather reject the cover from their employers as it leaves them with minimal disposable incomes to cater for their needs as well as their families.According to a research by Commonwealth Fund Commission the US health care system is poor in terms of in quality, efficiency and cost.
It is responsible for deaths that could have otherwise been prevented if quality and timely care was offered. The current health care compromises on the quality of care offered due to the fact that medical professionals offer care based on the patient’s ability to pay rather than their health needs. In such cases it is likely for a doctor to offer or rather recommend medication or therapy that is affordable to the patient though it may not necessarily be the best.Most health insurance companies tend to be selective in nature hindering the neediest people from accessing health care services. Since they are in business to make profit they could seek to pick the ‘healthier’ people to avoid liability.
This way the sick, poor or needy are hindered from attaining the health care services they terribly need. Most employers also tend to shy away from offering health care to their employees as this translates to their increased costs of operation.Again, most do not offer comprehensive coverage and this sees people with complex conditions like heart transplants with no where to turn to. The poor are constantly dodged from one place to the next a process paving way for the worsening of their medical conditions. (Place D, 2005).
Universal health care would be the ideal health system in the US. This system would ensure that inaccessibility rates to health care are improved. Financing the health care. Universal healthcare financing would be through a single payer system where the government would provide health insurance for all her citizens.However, other parties like Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), individuals as well as businesses would be encouraged to offer their support as the government’s financial power is minimal in the face of the many demands at its disposal. A large percentage of the federal government’s source of revenue is from the taxes.
This is a source of concern to most critics of a universal health care system where they argue that such a system would see the government raise the taxes thus increasing the burden on the citizens.If taxes were based on the people’s ability to pay then the burden would be less especially for the poor who barely afford the necessities of life. (Physicians for a National Health, 2008). A certain rate or proportion of the people’s income can be arrived at or established after considering various variables like the cost of health care and the total population. The rate can then be applied to determine what each individual would contribute as tax towards financing health care.
Such taxes would also ensure fairness in financing health care. Provision of insurance and the potential benefits.Health insurance in this system would be provided by the government to all her citizens. Universal health care would be beneficial to the society at large due to the fact that their economic well being would not influence their accessibility to health care services.
The cost of health care would be reduced drastically as the ideal health care would erase loopholes that make health care very expensive. Removing the middlemen and private insurance companies from the picture will have a positive effect in as far as cutting the cost of health care is concerned.Again, services accessed would be comprehensive as they would include long term care, mental, dental and vision. For the case of the extreme poor citizens the government would chip in to cater for all their health needs. The children would be fully covered as they are a special population in the society.
Impact of the health care system on physicians and health care providers Critics of universal health care argue that it would compromise on the quality of care offered due to the fact that without competition motivation for innovation would be reduced.To counter this, the federal government as well as the various states’ government would ensure that there are standards set to ensure that the quality care is offered. Physicians as well as other health care provided would offer care depending on the patient’s needs rather than their economic well being. Instead of first wanting to establish the status of one’s medical cover they would focus on how urgent or serious their medical conditions are. The government would also set some finances apart to ensure that there is effective research in the various medical fields.How the system would provide payment to physicians and health care providers The payment to physician and other health care providers in this system would be by the government.
(Physicians for a National Health, 2008). The departments of labor and health can group the professionals in various categories depending on their experience, expertise and academic qualifications. Those who demonstrate above average contributions should be awarded to encourage motivation towards innovation that would be a plus in as far as the quality of the health care provided is concernedUniversal would be superior to the current health care system by a number of aspects. It would ensure that the over 40 million Americans who are either uninsured or under insured access quality and timely health care.
One’s ability to pay would not be an important factor in as far as the acquisition of health care is concerned. Instead one’s health or medical needs would determine the care one attains. Deaths that would have been countered if early intervention was sought would now be reduced.This is attributed to the fact that when health care is affordable and accessible people would seek medical professional’s advice before their conditions have deteriorated. The unnecessary administrative costs linked to private insurance would be eliminated and health care would become affordable.
The general population’s health or well being would be boosted as people will afford to seek early intervention and they would not opt for the over the counter prescription due to lack of consultation fees. All in all the universal health care would be the solution to the current health care issues.
