Healthcare Reform: a Moral Imperative - Essay Example

Healthcare Reform a Moral Imperative? According to Mr. T.R. Reid, healthcare system reflects the values of our society and that we have a moral imperative to deliver healthcare for everyone. I agree with his statement since everybody should care for one another. A healthy nation does not revolve on one individual’s health, but depends on the health of everyone in the society. We should healthcare for everyone because it is the right thing to do. As such, a society that puts health of everyone a priority represents a society with moral values. Similarly, an individual who supports other people in terms of healthcare is a compassionate person. However, a society that disregards the health needs of its members is a selfish and immoral society. Therefore, how the society and individuals treat healthcare issues reflects on their values. Another example that shows that how we react to healthcare issues reflect on our values is that such a movie brings out the element of concern. For instance, if an individual does not show concern for his/her neighbor’s health; he or she does not stand for a healthy environment. Such individuals only keep themselves clean but subject other individuals to risky situations. For example, such individuals dispose harmful products to places that they do not affect them but affect other individuals. They only care about themselves, but they do not understand that such acts expose the environment to harm which may affect other individuals. According to Mr. T.R. Reid, Moral hazard refers to a process of the character of individuals’ change after they are insured against any losses. For example, if you house is insured against any losses or damages and there are no deductions, then you have no right over incentive to reduce minor accidents such as door breakage or wall tampering. Additionally, such issues occur if the damages are beyond the extent of fixing the house. At this point, an individual is likely to incur risks that will encourage minor house damages having in mind that the damage will be fully covered. According to Mr. T.R. Reid, people are less likely to take care of themselves if they are having full health insurance. Just as people behave when they have full insurance on cars, they tend to indulge in activities that affect their health since they are fully insured. Because of such, they visit doctors and access other medical services frequently than when they are not fully insured. If individuals are not insured, they tend to be careful since if they fall sick they access medical costs from their own budget. However, such acts increases healthcare costs in the health ministry (Zelmer, 2013). Since moral hazard is a behavioral change issue, which includes people taking more expenses on health issues since they are insured, Mr. T.R. Reid stated that such behavior is uncouth and should stop. However, he stated that such activities will take time to stop or will never stop so long as health insurance still stands. Sometimes people pay for insurance yet they do not get fall sick meaning that their insurance is never used. Despite such issues, he states that whenever an individual gets sick, his insurance will take care of him if he constantly paid for the insurance. However, those individuals who do not constantly pay for their insurance will never get full services from health insurance. Additionally, he stated that despite that the health insurance offers services for individuals paying for it, they should be careful and take good care of themselves (Zelmer, 2013). With his reasons, I agree with the position on moral hazard. This is because some individuals just take health insurance for granted and access health services in the name of insurance yet they are not affected health wise. This increases costs and expenses in the healthcare sector. To avoid such issues is to set certain policies that will regulate access to health services even if the individual is under insurance. Secondly, is to make individuals pay for certain risks that result from their actions. This will reduce costs, damages, and risks, and will ensure that individuals take good care of themselves (Zelmer, 2013). United States of America is striving hard to provide quality healthcare for its citizens. America has employed strategies to ensure that individuals get quality health care. Some of these strategies includes providing insurance options to those individuals who have no insurance cover. With the introduction of new Affordable Act, America has created a system where individuals who have no insurance covers will receive insurance covers according to their choices. This insurance is based on their interests since they will choose insurance covers that work best for them (Zelmer, 2013). With the aid of the Affordable Care act, America has provided rules and policies to insurance companies that will help in offering insurance covers. Some insurance companies offer insurance covers according to current medical situations of individuals. However, the Affordable Care Act states that such companies should provide insurance covers to each individual despite their current medical situations. At this point, individuals enjoy insurance despite of their social status, medical status or any other issue. Additionally, the act gives consumers the authority to make appeals on companies that deny doctor ordered treatments, which are covered by insurance (Zelmer, 2013). However, such issues will only increase moral hazards than helping the individuals in the country. This follows on the freedom that individuals have on health insurance. To confirm that health costs will increase instead of reducing, individuals will access health insurance service any time with no concern on how the costs come through because they are insured. The government should give insurance companies a chance of dealing with each individual according to their statuses. However, my opinion over the direction our country is taking in regard to providing access to inexpensive and quality health care for all citizens differs from a professional nurse’s opinion. According to the professional nurse opinion, expenses will be taken care of, making hospitals incur no losses since all the costs will be taken care of by insurance. On the other hand, my opinion other than the professional nurse opinion, I think that it will increase moral hazard. Moreover, as a nurse, I would the direction of healthcare in America is good because it increase individuals’ chances of access to healthcare (Zelmer, 2013). My opinion will affect my nursing career since my perception is different from the reality on the ground. References Zelmer, J. (2013). Achieving Healthcare Reform: By the Numbers. Hcpol, 9(2), 8-11. Read More