High Costs of Healthcare - Research Paper Example

Health care delivery system is one of vital component of public welfare schemes of the government, throughout the world. The recent trends have shownthat the rising cost of living has had an adverse effect on the overall public health care system. ‘There is growing recognition that present system is sick, and many feel that structural reform is required’ (Harrington & Crawford, 2004, p29). The healthcare components like accessibility to good medical care, quality and cost are increasingly moving beyond the grasp of general public. The inflationary trend in the economy and the rigidity in the health insurance are creating an extremely vulnerable segment of society who needs to be addressed urgently both in terms of micro level and at macro level. Anderson’s (1997) theory organizes the healthcare system as per the contribution of government and private agencies in the healthcare delivery. The level of participation of the government and non government agencies in the financing and organization of the healthcare modules determine their position on the continuum. In US, the healthcare is market driven and the various modules, even the essential ones like insurance, accessibility etc are treated like commodities. In the fast changing environment of globalization and technological advancement, healthcare system of US has come under lot of stress from various factors. Hence, academicians and scholars have placed the US Healthcare system at the market-maximized extreme of the Anderson continuum. The general down trend in the management and delivery of healthcare is major issue which, if not tackled soon, may boomerang on the government with serious consequences. The needed reforms, therefore, require a careful consideration to all the various pros and cons of the developing situations in the concerned areas of the public health care. The various agencies, government and non government are required to come together to formulate strategies and policies for the legislative reforms that need to be implemented. The market maximization and the competitive business rivalry have resulted in the low quality of the healthcare in the United States. In the market driven health system, consumers or people decide what goods (health module) to buy and at what cost. Therefore, the prices and the level of services become the crucial factor in the exchange of goods or the healthcare services. The market paradigms of the healthcare system have made it extremely discriminatory and unaffordable and thereby inaccessible for the unemployed and low income citizens. Nichols, Ginsburg et al. (2004) assert that migration of healthcare delivery towards a more market determined system has had major effects on the social and economic outcomes of the society. 67% of Americans have insurance coverage through employers’ programs and therefore, the employment status accounts as a major factor for healthcare outcomes of the individual (Fronstin, 1999). The healthcare system is one of the most vital issues that have considerable impact on the political system of the nation. It is for this reason that the different political parties have their own political agenda and healthcare policies to gain public support. The increasing apathetic attitude of political leadership in America has resulted in market maximization of healthcare delivery that has adversely affected the well being of the common man. The need for comprehensive feedback of delivery system as a whole and a careful consideration to all the various pros and cons of the developing situations in the concerned areas of the public health care, has become the need of the hour. In the current recessive trend, guaranteed employment is not a feasible option. Enthovan (2003) says that more than 45 millions U.S. residents do not have access to health care. Indeed, lack of public funding and the increasing cost of healthcare deliverables has become a huge concern. The quality of healthcare system in the United States is dependent on the overall cost of the healthcare services purchased. The poor have no choice but to compromise on their insurance package that may not fully meet their health requirements. The government needs to come up with more stringent measures and controls so that ‘health for all’ could be realized for the American citizens. The government shift of policies for public-private partnership needs to be monitored so that market driven interests are not able to exploit the vulnerable class. In NYRB, Relman (2010) has reviewed various books on healthcare and assures that healthcare insurance remains major concern. He says that Wennberg in his book correctly affirms that ‘major defect in the new health legislation is its failure to change our current dependence on private, for-profit insurance plans’. It has created a virtual monopoly for private insurance agencies. Though, President Obama’s healthcare reforms have taken special care to address public health insurance cover to people who cannot afford and also taken note of pre-existing diseases on the package. It is therefore, expected that with new initiatives and reforms, healthcare would become more accessible and helps improve the overall quality of the delivery of healthcare modules. The government’s initiative in improving and improvising the healthcare delivery through well defined plan is recommendable. The budget of 2010 has set aside $630 billion as a reserve to be used for the healthcare reforms over a period of ten years (OMB). President Obama has taken the first step towards fulfilling his promise of providing quality and affordable healthcare to one and all without adding burden to the deficit. Indeed, it is expected that Obama’s healthcare plans would go a long way in meeting the needs to the people from all strata of society thus promoting equality and non discrimination at all levels of healthcare delivery. (words: 934) Reference Anderson, G., Black, C. (1997). Willingness to pay to shorten waiting time for cataract surgery. Health Affairs, 16(5): 181-190. Enthoven, A. C. (2003). Employment-based health insurance is failing: now what? Health Affairs, 13(2), 7-20. Fronstin, P. (1999). Employment-based health insurance for children: why did coverage increase in the mid-1990s? Health Affairs, 18(5), 131-136. Harrington, Charlene & Crawford, Cassandra. (2004). Health Policy: Crisis and Reforms in the U.S. Health Care Delivery system. London. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Nichols LM, Ginsburg PB, Berenson RA, Christianson J, Hurley RE. (2004). Are market forces strong enough to deliver efficient health care systems? Confidence is waning. Health Affair (Millwood) 23: 8-21. Relman, Arnold. (September 30, 2010). Health Care: Disquieting Truth. NYRB. Retrieved from: Read More