Healthcare crisis

Introduction

Currently, the United States healthcare system is based on insurance coverage. The bigger part of the population is covered by private or employer-based insurance. The policy requires the employer to pay a major part of the insurance premium while the individual meets deductible expenses for the use of the policy. The obvious limitation of the current health care system is that the unemployed, disabled, elderly are not covered. (Institute of Medicine, 2002) The insufficient coverage is dealt with by the government deals through public insurance programs under the Social Security Amendments of 1965. Despite these programs by the government, a large number of Americans are currently uninsured.  (Elaine, 2013) The number includes those that do not fall below the income level required to guarantee access to Medicaid and those whose employers do not provide them insurance. Further, it is considerably expensive to get Insurance coverage that is not tied to employment, and the uninsured individuals cannot afford to meet the costs. (Reinhardt, 2003)  In addition to increasing expenses in terms of more expensive insurance, citizens also pay for the cost for state and federal programs through taxes. Compared to other Western countries, the US spends more per capita on health care than any other countries. In 1990, the country’s national expenditures for health care were 40 percent higher than Canada’s, whose spending was second highest. (Donald and John, 2012)So the U.S is by international standards quite peculiar in relation to its health care system. The question is why.

Why the United States doesn’t have universal health coverage like the other wealthy nations.

The U.S is the only developed nation without a structured universal health care system. Among other factors, the problem can have historical-cultural explanations for the nation does not have a structured universal health care system. Nevertheless, political-structural explanations are also important. First, the United States has been known to have some of the world’s weakest political parties. (Gorin, 1997)  Experts explain that the weakness is caused by localistic tendencies and other aspects of the Madisonian system. It is very rare for the content of a party’s platform to have much bearing on the health policies it advocates once in office. The electoral success of one party has not produced a major shift in health policy since 1965. In fact, the power of money in politics becomes even greater in the absence of strong parties. Individual politicians can’t succeed without great sizable contributions or personal wealth except in rare circumstances. (Bennett, 2010) It is easier for individuals to succeed in without the support of political party apparatuses than great sizable contributions or personal wealth. Much opposition to universal health care has been seen among groups with significant economic resources. Additionally, the political system of US is sophisticated about finding the middle ground. The presidents do not bring a considerable change despite presidential changes and long periods in which the parties have been essentially in their control of power. (Ciara et al, 2012) As a practical matter, it is only possible to reform the health care delivery system or reform health insurance, but not both at the same time. The policy implications are just too complicated and the political task just too onerous. (Elaine, 2013)

Secondly, advocates have different moral and ethical roots of their position. The growing infusion of spiritual and religious values into the political process brings a host of complicated reasons. The infusion has been primarily promoted by the religious groups opposed to progressive expansions of social benefits. Such moral appeal plays a large role in the political process. (Ciara et al, 2012)

Thirdly, Ignorance on the part of most Americans is also a contributing factor. Most citizens do not recognize the benefits that can arise from a universal health care system. Ignorance contributes to the lack of political will to change the current system. Together with the greed on the part of lots of people who enjoy windfall profits from the current system. Other people do not agree with the idea of taking other people’s tax money to pay for someone else's expenses. This is considered morally wrong by part of the population. (Bruce, 2003)

Additionally, other countries that have implemented the universal healthcare system have found some difficulties in the system. (Elaine, 2013) The Europe crises have been seen as a prime example of the failure of the universal healthcare system. A lot has gone wrong with the health care system in addition to problems of access. (John, 2003)It becomes had to trust the government to run a healthcare system amidst ailing sectors. The present institutions of the government cannot be considered effective enough to allow it to take over the health system. The American culture also promotes hard work as compared to having anything free. This brings the lack of will to call for a similar system. (The Feldman Group, 2005) This makes the current system that regulates and provides an amount of assistance for those who truly need it to be popular among a considerable percentage. On the other hand, some fear the loss of incentive for health care providers if the system is put in place.

References

Institute of Medicine (2002) A Shared Destiny: Community Effects of Uninsurance.

The Feldman Group (2005) Defining Our Beliefs: American Ideology Post 9/11.

Reinhardt, U. (2003) U.S. Health Care Spending in International Context. Health Affairs Web Exclusive.

John P. Geyman (2003)Debate on U.S. Health Care Reform MYTHS AS BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE REFORM IN THE UNITED STATES International Journal of Health Services, Volume 33, Number 2, Pages 315–329, 200

Bruce Vladeck (2003) Universal Health Insurance in the United States: Reflections on the Past, the Present, and the Future Am J Public Health. 2003 January; 93(1): 16–19.

Gorin S. (1997) Universal health care in the U. S: Implications, barriers, and prospects. Health Soc Work. 1997 Aug;22(3):223-30.

Donald M. Berwick and John Whittington (2012)The Triple Aim: Care, Health, And Cost

Elaine Bernard (2013) THE POLITICS OF CANADA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 

Bennett S, Rao K. (2010) Universal Health Coverage Perspectives on the World Health Report. PLoS Med 7(11)

Ciara Kierans, Garcia-Garcia, Francisco J. (2012) Health Systems Are Barriers to Health Care: Challenges Faced by Uninsured Patients DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054380

Carolyn Morgan is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in college research paper services. If you need a similar paper you can place your order from best medical essay service.