Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

In: Social Issues

Submitted By jvill2013
Words 991
Pages 4
How Fair is Your Healthcare?
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live outside of America? Things would certainly be different, but one big aspect would be healthcare. Would it be better somewhere else? Maybe even cheaper? The United States spends so much money towards healthcare, but is it worth it? And could we do anything to make it more efficient?
How much would you guess the United States spends on healthcare per person every year? I bet your guess was not over $8,000. The U.S. spends $8,233 on healthcare per person annually. (PBS.org) Our country spends by far more on healthcare than any other country besides Switzerland. (photius.com) This amount is more than two-and-a-half times more than most developed nations spend on healthcare. (PBS.org) But why? Is our healthcare the best in the world? The answer is no. In 2010, the World Healthcare Organization ranked the U.S. at 37, falling fifteen spots behind Columbia and just beating Slovenia and Cuba. (PBS.org) PBS News interviewed Mark Pearson, head of Division on Health Policy at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – an international economic group comprised of 34 member nations. Pearson talks about looking across a broad range of services, medical and surgical. He says the average price in the U.S. is about 85% higher than the average of all other OECD countries. (PBS.org) The average hospital stay in the U.S. costs about $18,000. The countries that came closest to spending as much as the U.S. were Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan, who spend $4,000 to $6,000 less per stay. Their average hospital stay is about one-third of that of the U.S., costing only $6,200 on average per stay. (PBS.org) The U.S. spends more than anyone else on healthcare, but does it really pay off how it should? According to an OECD report, America has a less than average physician to patient

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...Running Head: Health Care Reform Proposal Ethel Sloan Professor Tiriza York Grand Canyon University Date: April 20, 2012 Health Care Financial Reform Proposal The financial future of the health care industry is faltering. Financing Issues are among the most difficult problems in health care. The impact of health care reform initiatives from 2010 forward is yet to be realized. The impact on health care may take several years before health care can be reformed the way it should be. There are several problems on the horizon that is effecting the health care system. There is quality of health care, continuous rising of health care, and the developing of electronic medical records transparency. The impact of health care involves a selected choice of rules to Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that the Senate-passed health insurance reform bill.  Health care reform indicates health care industries must do more with less if they want to keep competive. In addition, this means health care industries need to become incredibly effective (Cleverly, W. O., Song, P. H., & Cleverly, J. O., 2011). On February 17, 2009, According the the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Act The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorizes the Centers to provide reimbursement incentive for physicians, hospitals, and providers who are successful in becoming meaningful users of an electronic health care records(Cleverly...

Words: 1519 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Health Care Reform

...Solutions to Illegal Immigrants Impact on Health Care Solutions to Illegal Immigrants Impact on Health Care The effect of immigration on health is controversial. “In recent history, large influxes of immigrants have not resulted from social benefits provided by the United States government. Rather, immigration increases are far more impacted by changes in immigration policy or by political conflict or natural disaster in the immigrants’ home countries. And the availability of direct economic incentives, jobs, prospects, higher wages, and the ability to send money back home, are more than enough to continue incentivizing immigration to the United States regardless of the status of health insurance” (Garg, 2010, p. 1025). Illegal immigrants do not have health insurance coverage; their primary resource for health care is by using emergency room services. Illegal immigrants often use emergency services because of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986. This act commands hospitals that offer emergency services to exclude certain ones, have to provide care to anyone needing emergency health care regardless of legal status or ability to pay. Undocumented immigrants are overrunning medical institutions with their inability to pay. Uncompensated care threatens the financial viability of a unit’s ability to provide care to other patients. Illegal immigrants are a burden to the United States health care economics. Is it an ethical and moral responsibility for...

Words: 1147 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...The New Health Care Law What should employers know? MGMT 4510 CRN 87885 Legal Issues in Human Resources Dr. Judith Ogden Group Members Jemella Bartley Justin Martin Christie Simon On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the comprehensive health reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148. Recognizing the disparities among American citizens, with and without health insurance, both Acts focus on ensuring that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. Comprehensive health reform addresses the following: major provisions to expand health care coverage, controlling health care costs, and improving health care delivery systems. While many debate the pros and cons of the new legislation, they must prepare for significant changes tiered over the next eight years. Here, we will discuss how the comprehensive health reform legislation affect employers and explain what they should know and be prepared for. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act each address essential components of reform: * Quality, affordable health care for all Americans: this function will accomplish a fundamental transformation of health insurance in the United States through shared responsibility. This means requiring most U.S. citizens and legal residents to have health insurance and requiring employers (large & small) to offer insurance or pay a penalty to the government for each employee. * The...

Words: 1828 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...Health Care Reform Tiffany Henderson POL: 201 American Government Instructor: Kristine Tsahiridis June 8,2015 We are all too familiar with the term “Obamacare”. The first thing that comes to mind when we hear it is health care. Medical insurance has become such a hot topic in the most recent years. Not everyone is able to afford the best care, and it is becoming more of a challenge for senior citizens and for people with limited income in general. Health Care reforms have always had a long history of being proposed but not approved. That has changed in 2010 when two new federal statues were passed into law. The first being the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA, and the second being the amended version to the PPACA, known as the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The Federal Health Reform was created to make it easier for all Americans to have health care coverage. The reform uses the current insurance programs that are in place to build on so that more people can have access to health insurance. It also ensures consumers protection and more knowledgeable shopping for insurance. There are many steps included in the reform act such as, expanding Medicaid to allow for lower income families to afford health coverage, encourage more employers to offer coverage, encourage primary and preventive care, and require most Americans to have or purchase health insurance. The efforts for an effective health care reform have started as early...

Words: 745 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...Abstract Whether you are an economists or the average consumer, Health Care costs and spending seems to always be a hot topic. From my initial research I found that Health Care costs are steadily rising both in the private and public sectors. From what I have read I believe some sort of Health Care reform is required. There are vast numbers of people suffering and even dying because the cost of Health Care is too expensive. Unfortunately people skip doctor appointments and ignore ailments, just because they cannot afford it and it some cases people are paying the ultimate price. I’d like to look a little deeper into the Pros and Cons of Private and Public Healthcare and delve a little into some of the Health Care reform Bills that are in play or will be implemented in the near future. Specifically I want to look at Obamacare, as I hear it in the news, but do not know what impacts it has to the economy, good or bad. List of Figures Figure 1 6 Figure 2 6 Figure 3 7 Figure 4 7 Health Care Reform In recent years, a fair amount of attention has been geared towards Health Care. There has been a number of Economists that have voiced concern that rising health care spending could hurt the economy and lower employment. A December 2004 survey of CEOs found that employee health care costs are the greatest cost concern of America’s business leaders. (via aspe.hhs.gov). Due to the ever rising cost of healthcare, I found that approximately 53 Million...

Words: 1347 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...National Health Reform - Decreased Cost in Medicare and Medicaid: How Does it Impacts Nursing Home Care in New York State by Vina Aileen Bonner HCA 621 Utica College Fixing medical care and health insurance in the United States has been a public policy concern for about a century. Presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton focused on the National Health Reform, but only President Barack Obama achieved the health care reform. Health care costs are increasing while the access to health care is declining. The occupationally based health insurance system is greatly stressed. Medicare and Medicaid are consuming more of the federal budget. According to the White House’s budget for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), President Obama’s proposal would save nearly $360 billion in Medicare and Medicaid over the next 10 years: $56 billion would come through Medicaid reforms. Medicare is a federal health insurance program providing health care benefits to all Americans age 65 and over. Medicare is a significant part of the reason the national debt is soaring out of control. It is an open-ended program for provided for millions of senior citizens and people with disabilities. Medicare is growing faster than Social Security and more expensive in the next 25 years. Nationally, health care experts believe that as much as third of all health care spending – about $800 billion in...

Words: 1821 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...Assessment on Health Care Politics and Policy Brittani Cornett Health Care Policy 3200 Professor Walpole November 16, 2013 The overwhelming majority of Americans agree that reform of our healthcare system is necessary; however, the debate continues to rage over the specific type of reform we need. With the health care reform more people will gain health insurance, coverage will be more affordable, and people will have access to the health services they need. These provisions will improve the lives of millions of Americans and give them the peace of mind that comes with knowing that they have coverage no matter what. Prior to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed, the Democrats and Republicans had not been able to compromise on a deal. Subsequently, President Obama and House Republicans failed to reach an agreement on a plan that would extend the nation's debt limit. This paper will evaluate two consequences involved in policymaking of health care reform; the committee involved, and the reasons the House will not come to an agreement in efforts towards health care reform.   On March 23, 2010 the Affordable Health Care Act became a law. This meant that insurance companies would no longer stand between consumers and their healthcare providers. They could no longer dictate what services would be limited, and the need for seeking approval before receiving emergency care at a facility...

Words: 1049 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...HealthCare Reform Regina Webb SOC 320 Public Policy & Social Services Angela Cranon-Charles – Instructor February 13, 2012 When we speak of the HealthCare Reform, medical coverage comes to mind. The HealthCare Reform is any policy that seeks to change or make better the way health care is now. Generally, the health care reform is a governmental policy. Many individuals hate the healthcare reform for one basic reason: They believe the American Healthcare System cannot be reformed. The practice of medicine has become so riddled with economic and legal affairs in America, that it seems most everyone has something invested in this decision and it leads people to believe it’s all about money. It is difficult to understand because the practice of medicine is not about financial gain, it is a humanitarian science geared toward the wellness of people, not the growth of bank accounts. Every citizen who contributes to their community should be free to live their life without making a choice between medicine and food, between cancer treatment and their kids’ college without the fear that they are one cold or flu away from unemployment or financial ruin. Many past presidents attempted to pass health care reform to name a few but not limited to be Nixon, Carter, Clinton, and now Obama. The attempt to pass a national health care plan date back to Teddy Roosevelt, some European countries had already implemented national health coverage and pensions by then. In this paper...

Words: 1380 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...Johnson HCA-255 February 21st, 2014 Prof: Deborah Conway Health Reform Why the Clinton Health Reform Plan never passed in the 1990”s Possibly the Clinton organization's utmost error was unwarranted determination. The strategy struggled instantaneously to protect worldwide insurance coverage, controlling the isolated coverage market, changing health care funding through a company requirement, regulate prices to planes imposed by a nationwide health panel, and change the provision system through managed care. In the least any one of these ideas alone was going to be difficult to achieve, and even though there is a practical validation for taking all of them on at one time, it would prove to be an administrative double-crossing task. Without a doubt, each element of the Clinton plan stimulated conflict (Joanathan Oberlander, 2007). The National Federation of Independent Business strongly was against the business obligation. The Health Insurance Association of America struggled against coverage guidelines and federally enforced price controls. Congressional Republicans criticized the whole design, including the health agreements, as being too much “big government.” The organization's hold on to the proficient opposition of health care system change separate well-insured, middle-class Americans (Joanathan Oberlander, 2007). The Clinton organization both overestimated the opposition and misjudged the support for reform. The organization did not organize any planned constituency...

Words: 1509 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...Health Care Reform Lisa Juarez HCS 235 February 4, 2014 Holly O'Dell Health Care Reform The health care reform is an ongoing debate. We have heard it called to Obama Care, but it really is the Affordable Care Act. It was signed into law in 2010. The idea behind the Affordable Care Act was to provide affordable health insurance to every American. The law contains thousands of pages of insurance and health care reforms. All are designed to make it easier and more affordable for every American to get coverage. Health plans can no longer limit or deny benefits to children under the age of 19 due to a pre-existing condition. If you are under 26, you may be eligible to be covered under your parent’s health plan. Insurers can no longer cancel your coverage just because you made an honest mistake. You now have the right to ask that your plan reconsider its denial of payment. When we look at the cost the law has no lifetime limits on coverage. Lifetime limits on benefits are not allowed for all new health insurance plans. Reviews premium increases, insurance companies must now give a good reason for any raises in rates. Helps you get the most for your premium dollars. Your premium money must be spent primarily on health care and not administrative costs. Now we can look at the care benefits; it covers preventive care at no cost to us and you may be eligible for preventive health services with no co-payment. Protects your right to choose your own doctors, choose the primary care...

Words: 1112 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...Health care reform in the United states In the United States, the debate regarding healthcare reform includes questions of a right to health care, access, fairness, sustainability, quality and amounts spent by government. The mixed public-private health care system in the United States is the most expensive in the world, with health care costing more per person than in any other nation, and a greater portion of gross domestic product (GDP) is spent on it than in any other United Nations member state except for East Timor (Timor-Leste).[2] A study of international health care spending levels in the year 2000, published in the health policy journal Health Affairs, found that while the U.S. spends more on health care than other countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the use of health care services in the U.S. is below the OECD median by most measures. The authors of the study concluded that the prices paid for health care services are much higher in the U.S.[3] In spite of the amount spent on health care in the U.S., according to a 2008 Commonwealth Fund report, the United States ranks last in the quality of health care among developed countries.[4] The World Health Organization (WHO), in 2000, ranked the US health care system 37th in overall performance and 72nd by overall level of health (among 191 member nations included in the study).[5][6] International comparisons that could lead to conclusions about the quality of the health care...

Words: 631 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...Health Care Reform Project Angela Thomas HCS/440 December 16, 2913 Caryn Callahan The Aging Population in America The current growth in the number of older adults in the United States are reaching unprecedented numbers in the nation’s history with an expectation of reaching nearly 89 million people by age 65 or older by year 2050. The rapid U.S. growth can be attributed to two realities: Americans are living longer than in previous decades; the twentieth century ushered in effective public health strategies and advances in medical treatment contributing to a dramatic increase in average life expectancy. The post -World War II “baby boomer” generation. The leading edge of the baby boom generation reached age 65 in 2011, and every other day roughly 10,000 people will celebrate their 65th birthday. So, by 2030 the last baby boomer will celebrate their 65th birthday leaving a population of 72 million older Americans (CDC, 2013). This population has wide-ranging implications for virtually every facet of American society. At each point in the lifespan of baby boomers, the United States has felt and been changed by the impact of their numbers and needs—from booming sales in commercial baby food in the late 1940s, to construction of new schools during the 1950s, to the housing construction boom of the 1970s and 1980s. The 30-year gain in life expectancy within the span of a century had never before been achieved. Diseases that once claimed lives have been eradicated while...

Words: 969 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...The Healthcare Reform aka Obamacare aka Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law reform by president Barrack Obama and taken into Supreme Court on June, 28th 2012. The goal of the affordable Care Act is to provide individuals with health insurance that they can afford. Americans applied for coverage when open enrollment in the marketplace starting October 1st 2013 and started receiving coverage by January 1st 2014. Obamacare is not for those who already have health coverage through an employer, Medicare or Medicaid. If you already have insurance you do not have to worry about this. “Obamacare does not replace private insurance Medicare or Medicaid” (obamacarefacts.com). The Healthcare Law will benefit those on Medicare Medicaid and private insurance providing better options, better values and better healthcare. A topic that has been trending is whether Obamacare is “affordable” or not. The Healthcare Reform will cost families and individuals a small percentage of what they earn after cost assistance. Obamacarefacts.com state “Obamacare will cost most of us between 3% and 9% of our income after cost assistance.” Cost assistance is given to low to middle income Americans. People who do not qualify for tax credits and cost assistance can still find a good deal in the health insurance marketplace. The ACA for a lot of Americans have provided affordable health coverage, but for many who are struggling with will already have to find the extra money for coverage. Obamacare...

Words: 979 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Health Care Reform

...Health Care Reform 02-25-2010 The debаte оver heаlth саre refоrm in the United Ѕtаteѕ сenterѕ оn queѕtiоnѕ аbоut whether there iѕ а fundаmentаl right tо heаlth саre, оn whо ѕhоuld hаve ассeѕѕ tо heаlth саre аnd under whаt сirсumѕtаnсeѕ, оn the quаlity асhieved fоr the high ѕumѕ ѕрent, the ѕuѕtаinаbility оf exрenditureѕ thаt hаve been riѕing fаѕter thаn the level оf generаl inflаtiоn аnd the grоwth in the eсоnоmy, the rоle оf the federаl gоvernment in bringing аbоut ѕuсh сhаnge, аnd соnсernѕ оver unfunded liаbilitieѕ. Mоѕt рerѕоnаl bаnkruрtсy in the United Ѕtаteѕ iѕ саuѕed аt leаѕt раrtly by mediсаl debt whiсh iѕ аlmоѕt unknоwn in оther соuntrieѕ in the develорed wоrld. The United Ѕtаteѕ ѕрendѕ а greаter роrtiоn оf tоtаl yeаrly inсоme in the nаtiоn оn heаlth саre thаn аny United Nаtiоnѕ member ѕtаte exсeрt fоr Eаѕt Timоr (Timоr-Leѕte), аlthоugh the асtuаl uѕe оf heаlth саre ѕerviсeѕ in the U.Ѕ., by mоѕt meаѕureѕ оf heаlth ѕerviсeѕ uѕe, iѕ belоw the mediаn аmоng the wоrld'ѕ develорed соuntrieѕ.[6] Ассоrding tо the Inѕtitute оf Mediсine оf the Nаtiоnаl Асаdemy оf Ѕсienсeѕ, the United Ѕtаteѕ iѕ the "оnly weаlthy, induѕtriаlized nаtiоn thаt dоeѕ nоt enѕure thаt аll сitizenѕ hаve соverаge". Аmeriсаnѕ аre divided аlоng раrty lineѕ in their viewѕ regаrding the rоle оf gоvernment in the heаlth eсоnоmy аnd eѕрeсiаlly whether а new рubliс heаlth рlаn ѕhоuld be сreаted аnd аdminiѕtered by the federаl gоvernment. Thоѕe in fаvоr оf univerѕаl heаlth саre аrgue thаt the lаrge number оf uninѕured...

Words: 2622 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Health Care Reform

...Health Care Reform A newest way to finance health care now days is the health care reform which it is also called Obama Care. The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010. The main objective behind the Affordable Care Act was to ensure that affordable health care insurance was available to every U.S citizen. This law is an extensive document that contains many regulations and laws that relate not only to health care but also to the regulation of insurance companies. One of the best known regulations is that group health plans can no longer put limitations or deny benefits to individuals under the age of 19 due to pre-existing conditions and individuals under the age of 26, are now eligible to be covered under their parents’ health care plans. Harrington (2010) states that under the health care reform individuals have now the right to appeal to their health care insurances if they deny payments for a specific reason and there are no lifetime limits on benefits. Insurance companies are now a little bit more regulated and they will have to give a good reason if they raise rates for patients. The premium paid by patients must be spent primarily in health care and not in administrative costs. Preventive health services are provided now with no cost for the patient and it may include no copays for most insured individuals. The health care reform also gives individuals the right to choose their own doctors from their plan networks, and allows individuals to access...

Words: 794 - Pages: 4