Every American Should Be Capable of Receiving Health Care as He Pays for It - Term Paper Example

Health Care Spending Health Care Spending Health care spending in the United s has been a talking point in countless debatesover the past few years. The rise in spending is causing most economists and average folks alike sleepless nights. It is the belief of many experts on the economic front that health care spending is rising faster than the rise in the region’s national income, and ultimately, the health care spending in other nations and countries (Yesalis, Politzer & Holt, 2012). What makes this more difficult to bear for most Americans is the fact that most of them are not receiving sufficient health care as promised by the different administrations that have been in control. The current developments in health care spending indicate that this sector is slowly spiraling out of control. Policies are being put in place to try and address the problem before it completely gets out of hand. This paper will look at some of the aspects of health care spending, and how it is affecting different trends in the economy in the United States. Currently, health care spending has hit an all-time high. It is estimated that in the year 2013, the health care sector in the region used almost 3 trillion U.S. dollars, which is said to be over 15% of the region’s economy. Statistics also provide evidence that spending in this sector has been growing at a rate of at least 3 percent since the year 2009. Spending in the United States has doubled since the early 2000s, but the sluggish recovery of the economy is what may be making the rates much lower than anticipated (Yesalis, Politzer & Holt, 2012). Most of the people in the region are foregoing medical care as a result of a decline in their disposable income, increase in cost to workers, and even loss of health cover. It is my belief that the coming year, and the ones after that, may record a sharp rise in health care spending. It is my opinion that the figures projected by some of the organizations in the region are too high. This is a clear indication that almost a quarter of the region’s economy is spent on health care and other related health care costs, which means that the other sectors present are having to share most of what is left. The health care sector is just as important as any other sector that is present in the region. This means that proper policies must be put into account when coming up with estimates for the use and appropriation of capital into the health care sector. The amount of capital that is spent on medicine, as compared to other Organizations for Economic Co-operation and Development (O.E.C.D), is much higher and less effective. This is because these other regions report lower spending rates, with a higher efficiency rate among the health care organizations in the region (Winter, 2013). One area that the United States heavily invests in is the medicine needed by the health care sector. Some studies indicate that most of the early deaths in the United States are as a result of poor medical care, but this figures account for only 10 percent of all reported deaths. A lot of the capital is used on health care services, rather than social services (Winter, 2013). It is my belief that focusing on social services may help reduce the figures that make up the high deaths in the United States. This focus is crucial since it strives to address the social, economic, and environmental aspects of the health care sector, which are considered to be the backbone of the health care sector. The housing and diet aspect of the people in the region are just examples of the social aspects that often lead to most of the medical issues in the United States. By addressing these issues, it would be plausible to address the issue of high medicine costs in the United States. Another area that could do with some cuts is the administrative area of health care. Administrators in most of the public health care organizations receive a lot of funding from different areas of the government, which ultimately impacts the health care spending. Sometimes, the funding often goes into a health care organization’s personal projects, which has little to do with the countless people affected by the different health issues present in the region. Many at times, administrators are often inclined to do certain things because of the financial motivation behind their actions. This makes it quite difficult to reduce the costs of health care in the United States, especially if the parties funding the organizations have something to benefit from introducing different policies in the health care sector (Shi & Singh, 2011). Currently, the health care system in the United States threatens its prosperity in a number of ways. First, the manner in which health care spending is rising is placing a tremendous burden on the economy, which is quite grievous. The economy is burdened in the sense that the health care system demands for more than it delivers (Shi & Singh, 2011). This is in terms of the health benefits to workers present in the economy. Secondly, energy among all individuals in the region is being drained by the health care spending experienced in the region. A lot of capital is being driven into the health care sector, where even employers are now paying for the high health care costs incurred by their employees. The economic costs that are being seen need to be curtailed in order to reduce all other expenses incurred by the citizens in the United States. Coming up with a mechanism to lower the costs of health care may be the best way to reduce or trim down the vast expenses in health care, which includes increasing access to more social services in the region. By curtailing the cost of health care, it would be possible to reinstate the state of harmony between workers in the economy and the health care sector. Focusing on their wellbeing can guarantee that their productivity is at par with what is expected. Universal coverage, as seen in other regions, may provide an avenue for the players in the health sector to actually make significant improvement in the care they provide (Shi & Singh, 2011). This may ensure that health care providers are rewarded for providing quality and quantity health care, regardless of the costs incurred. Policy makers should allow certain changes to take precedence over the need for profits for the sake of the individuals they are meant to serve. These needs must be addressed to allow individuals have an avenue to have their health needs dealt with in order to live long and productive lives. Addressing these needs may also aid in solving the problem of having a system that demands for too much from one individual, and at the same time, consuming much of the nation’s wealth. As seen earlier, universal medical cover is meaningful. It is considered by countless individuals as the first step in creating a better system, through which individuals can thrive and prosper. The economy will also benefit tremendously from these changes. If the costs incurred through health care spending are reduced, the capital can be used in other areas, for example; security. By protecting the integrity of the health care sector, it would be possible to attain funds from small businesses, which are afraid of getting into business as a result of fear of health coverage (Shi & Singh, 2011). In conclusion, health care spending should not be a scary matter to talk about, especially in a first world nation such as the United States. Every individual should be capable of receiving health care as they pay for it. It should be a case of providing quality health care for everyone, as compared to providing quality health care for a selected few. It does not make sense to anyone to spend more money on various areas in the region, with little or no results to show for such efforts. That being said, it would be vital to look at all possible angles before deciding on which method would be better for the region’s health care system (Garson & Engelhard, 2007). This may allow all players to have a say in the matter, and they would in due course anticipate the impact of their actions. References Garson, A., & Engelhard, C. L. (2007). Health care half-truths: Too many myths, not enough reality. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2011). Delivering health care in America. New York: Macmillan Publishers. Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2011). The nation’s health. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Winter, R. E. (2013). Unraveling U.S. health care: A personal guide. New Jersey: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Yesalis, C., Politzer, R., & Holt, H. (2012). Fundamentals of U.S. health care: Principles and perspectives. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Read More