Healthcare in the USA Should Be a Right Not a Privilege - Essay Example

Healthcare in the U.S. Should be a Right not a Privilege Introduction That the inadequate healthcare system needs a significant an immediate overhaul is undeniable. Health care professionals understand the problems associated with the failing system more so than anyone and are the first to voice their concerns. Americans of all political ideologies agree too many individuals and families are uninsured or underinsured and that health care costs are higher than necessary but Republican and Democratic lawmakers disagree on the solution. The recent cloture vote along strict part lines in the US Senate clearly illustrated that the Democratic solution is to do something as opposed to the Republican solution which is to do what they did during the Bush administration, nothing. An Overview Unlike other industrialized countries, economic status plays a major role in determining health status for Americans, a despicable circumstance in the minds of Europeans who enjoy cradle-to-grave medical care. They consider it a birthright. Taking care of the nations sick without regard to their social position is a responsibility civilized society’s embrace, at least those outside the U.S. Even people with insurance are limited to the care they receive, many times dependent on bureaucrats instead of physicians to determine treatment. The ‘public option’ now hotly debated nationally is actually a compromise for what most Democrats actually favor, a ‘single payer’ system, otherwise referred to as universal health care, a more efficient system that covers everyone, essentially emulating a similar approach employed by Britain, Canada, Cuba, Brazil, Russia, Japan, western European countries and many other nations. A Society is Judged by How its Treats the Most Vulnerable How Does the U.S. Rate? Most Americans identify the health care crisis is one of the main concerns facing the nation as evidenced by the amount of rhetoric allocated to this issue in the current presidential debates, at least on the Democratic side. The majority of Americans concurs with the majority of the world’s population in that a society has the responsibility to care for its sick and injured without regardless of their financial status. “Nearly seven in ten respondents go so far as indicating they would be willing to pay more in federal taxes to assure that every American citizen has health care coverage” (“Who should pay” 2004). That more than 40 million Americans do not have health insurance is widely acknowledged but those who are insured often cannot afford the medical care they require. A universal health care system similar to what is offered the bulk of the ‘civilized’ world should not be a matter of debate, it should be a reality. It’s what the public desires and moreover, what they deserve as U.S. citizens. Many times we hear the phrase, ‘America is number one!’ but of course this applies to economic and military prowess only and certainly does not include other areas, the quality and affordability of health care in particular. “The United States, which has the most expensive health system in the world, underperforms consistently relative to other countries and differs most notably in the fact that Americans have no universal health insurance coverage” (Presse, 2007). Fear Mongering Those opposed to universal health care such as insurance and pharmaceutical companies along with Republicans have characterized this system as ‘socialized medicine.’ This moniker elicits fears of communist ideals, the ‘red menace’ creeping into American society. Universal health care, however, cannot be accurately describes as socialized medicine. If the single-payer system can be categorized as socialism then other worthwhile endeavors such as the military can be as well. Few, if any, are opposed to socialized police, fire and ambulance services or would want to privatize the public school system. Americans of all political leanings are willing to finance these important services yet some, those influenced by the fear-mongering of insurance and pharmaceutical lobbying efforts, would deny health care delivered by the same method. Meeting the health needs of people is as or more important than the other services currently supplied in a socialistic means. “In the United States, certain publicly funded health care programs help to provide for the elderly, disabled, military service families and veterans, and the poor and federal law ensures public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay; however, a system of universal health care has not been implemented” (“Universal” 2005). The Costs of Health Care The Numbers In September of 2006, in a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, it was shown Americans paid an average of $11,500 for family health care benefits through their employer (Leonhardt, 2006). This is a 7.7 percent rise from the previous year. Benefit cost have doubled since 1999 but wages and corporation revenues, which heavily subsidize insurance, have risen only fractionally. The term spiraling and healthcare costs have become conjoined in common language usage and this is creating an economic crisis for both employers and employees. According to David Leonhardt (2006), the average person spent just under $100 a year for health care benefits or the equivalent of $500 in today’s dollars in 1950. In 2005, the average person spent close to $6,000. “In a new Christian Science Monitor/TIPP poll, 54 percent of respondents reported that their healthcare costs had increased in the past year, hurting family finances” (Sappenfield, 2002). Costs in Perspective Medical bills were of little concern to families in the 1950’s but the medical technology seems archaic by today’s standards. Half a century ago, a person’s lifespan was approximately 68 where today, it is a decade longer. Those in their 40’s today can reasonably expect to see their 80th birthday. Most, presumably, would prefer to spend more money to live longer which is what has happened. From this perspective, healthcare could be considered a good return on an investment. The benefits and costs of healthcare are not unrelated yet many do not understand why they have to pay more than they did equivalent to the 1950’s or even to 1999. People generally consider healthcare costs to be a commodity in the same way they think of electricity or gasoline where price has little bearing on the quality of the product. Prescription Drug Costs The price of prescriptions are not determined by production costs or by monies allocated to researching new drugs. Competition, projected volume of sales as opposed to actual sales and estimates of revenue produced by the product are among other factors drive drug prices. Because of the competition in some drug classes such as headache relief medications or cholesterol-lowering drugs, prices are kept low. But in the case of a medication where a suitable substitute isn’t available, its manufacturer can ask practically any price they wish. For example, Abbott Laboratories raised its price on Norvir, a drug that treats AIDS to $265 in 2003 (Berenson, 2006). The price was $54 when it was introduced in 1996. No other comparable drug exists as of yet so Abbott can set the price higher with no other justification other than wanting to increase its profits. The Food and Drug Administration takes no part in the regulation of drug prices and federal law prohibits Medicare from taking into account price when deciding on what treatments to cover. Insurance companies, government agencies and individuals must pay the prices drug manufacturers establish. The Price of Costly Healthcare If health insurance costs continue the present trend of increasing 100 percent every seven years, the costs will soon be prohibitive for employers and their employees alike. Spending money on consumer goods stimulates the economy and it is viewed as a patriotic in an abstract sense. Taking on a mortgage on a house is an investment but healthcare is considered simply a cost. If it rises to the point where very few can afford it, the lives of the majority will be cut short. Which is more important, to go on a spending spree at the mall, buy a bigger house or live another decade or so? It seems the country’s priorities are misplaced (Leonhardt, 2006). At present, about 45 million Americans are without healthcare insurance and that number rises everyday due to the escalating costs. Healthcare costs can be cut but the crisis seems not to be among the country’s priorities. The Rich Stay Healthy, the Sick Stay Poor Social location more often than not is closely related to physical location. Living in certain areas of the country and cities is a determining factor in projecting health outcomes. Lower income people who live in the inner cities suffer what is commonly referred to as the ‘urban health penalty.’ This phrase illustrates the reality that health status is decidedly lower among lower-class neighborhoods. This faction of society doesn’t possess the political influence or financial means to effect change in their desperate circumstance. They are likely to remain poor and living in places that exacerbate their health problems. “Inner-city-bound populations, such as the poor and working poor often have heightened health risks because of smog, toxic waste dumping, noise, traffic, crime, violence, drug abuse, and crumbling infrastructures” (Short, 2001). Those seemingly entrapped by their impoverished circumstances seldom seek preventative medical care or other health services until they require an emergency room visit. The expense of modern health care is prohibitive to most residents of the inner city who can neither afford medical insurance. “The American Medical Association warns physicians that, due to the lack of affordable health insurance, more patients will delay treatment” (Zinser, Hsieh, 2008). Studies have consistently demonstrated that the lower the social status, the odds they will be of poorer health and die at a younger age increases proportionately. “Data stretching back centuries demonstrate that each step down the socioeconomic ladder increases the morbidity and mortality for numerous diseases. This gradient, documented in all industrialized societies, is considerable, with mortality rates due to some diseases differing by an order of magnitude between the highest and lowest echelons of socioeconomic ladders” (Adler et al. 1993). The health benefits of enjoying a higher social status are evident. “Class is a potent force in health and longevity in the United States. Upper-middle-class Americans live longer and in better health than middle-class Americans, who live longer and better than those at the bottom.” (Scott, 2005) Conclusion Currently, the U.S. is the only industrialized, ‘civilized’ country that allows its citizens to be refused health care due to their inability to pay. This embarrassing circumstance would be eliminated by implementing universal health care and the government would save hundreds of billions every year. Other than insurance and pharmaceutical companies, all would benefit. Individuals would profit both financially and medically and government on the state and federal level could divert the monies spent now on the broken health care system to social programs that would further benefit society as a whole. Patients would not be forced to choose from a list of doctors unlike the current system and would not have to rely on a bean-counting to decide to what extent or if their condition will be covered by insurance. Americans are needlessly suffering and dying while vast amounts of money is being wasted, all for no reason other than the stubbornness of the leaders of the country to address the problem. It’s not because health care reform does not make sense economically or politically. The insurance and pharmaceutical industries are large contributors to politicians and have the funds to bombard the media with self-serving propaganda designed scare people into continuing the current failed system. Americans should be appalled and ashamed at the system and themselves for being so blindly manipulated. Outline: I. Introduction II. An Overview III. A Society is Judged by How its Treats the Most Vulnerable A. How Does the U.S. Rate? B. Fear Mongering IV. The Costs of Health Care A. The Numbers B. Costs in Perspective C. Prescription Drug Costs D. The Price of Costly Healthcare E. The Rich Stay Healthy, the Sick Stay Poor V. Conclusion Works Cited Adler N, Boyce T, Chesney M, Folkman S, Syme S. “Socioeconomic inequalities in health: No easy solution.” Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol. 269, (l993):3140–45 Berenson, Alex. “A Cancer Drug’s Big Price Rise is Cause for Concern.” New York Times. (March 12, 2006). November 23, 2009 Scott, Janny “Life at the Top in America Isnt Just Better, Its Longer” NY Times (May 16, 2005) November 23, 2009 Leonhardt, David. “The Choice: A Longer Life or More Stuff.” New York Times. (September 27, 2006). November 23, 2009 Presse, Agence France. “U.S. Health System Ranks Last Compared to Other Countries” (May 15, 2007). November 23, 2009 Read More