Erin Heidenreich
Dr. McNeal
Introduction to American Politics
Paper
27 April 2017
Making a Change to the United States’ Health Care
The United States of America is supposedly known to give its citizens the best chance at a decent life, yet something as crucial as health care causes financial hardship on many. In fact “56 percent of Americans say they have tried to find out how much they would have to pay out of pocket—not including a copay—or how much their insurer would have to pay a doctor or hospital, before getting care” ("How Much Will It Cost?"). This is distributing that Americans are more worried about the cost of their medical bills than their own health. The system needs to change in order to benefit American citizens. Health care …show more content…
By the end of 2017 the national debt is expected to be around 23.2 trillion dollars ("Federal Debt Clock"). The United States health care is only adding to the national debt. One of the biggest hurdles of the US health care system is its cost effectiveness. The cost per capita in 2014 for the United States’ health care was $9,403 and the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 17.1 ("United States of America"). In terms of health care “…the United States spends nearly double what some its peers spend, but Americans lag behind in terms of life expectancy, infant mortality…”(Bradley et al. 181). Meaning the system needs to lower in cost and improve in quality of care, especially if the United States wants to compete with other countries. It is also important to fix our health care system because the elderly population is increasing; “79 million Baby Boomers are turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day” ("Health Care"). This is important because it “means that Medicare will balloon from an enrollment of 47 million in 2010 to 85 million in 2035” ("Health Care"). Out of the whole population the elderly are the ones that need medical attention the most and that becomes …show more content…
According to the article “Health Care”, one alternative is providing every American with the same health care. This is when national health care is provided through the government. It is linked through already existing programs like, Medicare. Everyone person would be eligible for the same health care no matter their age, income, or medical conditions. Since it would run like Medicare this would mean that the insurance would be through the government and heath cares received or given would run the same way they do now; they would be private or non-profit. This system would be funded through taxes, this would mean people would not have to pay for co-pays, deductibles, etc. because through taxes it would already be paid. This would also simplify things for the American government and citizens because the single payer system would have one set of principles and forms since there would only be one type of insurance instead of multiple types from different companies (“Health
Dr. McNeal
Introduction to American Politics
Paper
27 April 2017
Making a Change to the United States’ Health Care
The United States of America is supposedly known to give its citizens the best chance at a decent life, yet something as crucial as health care causes financial hardship on many. In fact “56 percent of Americans say they have tried to find out how much they would have to pay out of pocket—not including a copay—or how much their insurer would have to pay a doctor or hospital, before getting care” ("How Much Will It Cost?"). This is distributing that Americans are more worried about the cost of their medical bills than their own health. The system needs to change in order to benefit American citizens. Health care …show more content…
By the end of 2017 the national debt is expected to be around 23.2 trillion dollars ("Federal Debt Clock"). The United States health care is only adding to the national debt. One of the biggest hurdles of the US health care system is its cost effectiveness. The cost per capita in 2014 for the United States’ health care was $9,403 and the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 17.1 ("United States of America"). In terms of health care “…the United States spends nearly double what some its peers spend, but Americans lag behind in terms of life expectancy, infant mortality…”(Bradley et al. 181). Meaning the system needs to lower in cost and improve in quality of care, especially if the United States wants to compete with other countries. It is also important to fix our health care system because the elderly population is increasing; “79 million Baby Boomers are turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day” ("Health Care"). This is important because it “means that Medicare will balloon from an enrollment of 47 million in 2010 to 85 million in 2035” ("Health Care"). Out of the whole population the elderly are the ones that need medical attention the most and that becomes …show more content…
According to the article “Health Care”, one alternative is providing every American with the same health care. This is when national health care is provided through the government. It is linked through already existing programs like, Medicare. Everyone person would be eligible for the same health care no matter their age, income, or medical conditions. Since it would run like Medicare this would mean that the insurance would be through the government and heath cares received or given would run the same way they do now; they would be private or non-profit. This system would be funded through taxes, this would mean people would not have to pay for co-pays, deductibles, etc. because through taxes it would already be paid. This would also simplify things for the American government and citizens because the single payer system would have one set of principles and forms since there would only be one type of insurance instead of multiple types from different companies (“Health