In this project, I will be proposing a different model or ideal outcome for the US healthcare system. Before that, here is a quick overview of the way our healthcare system currently works and why:
In the American system as it stand today, we have what is known as a direct-fee system, in which patients under 65 (those 65 and older are covered by Medicare) are expected to pay for medical costs themselves(out-of-pocket), aided by private health insurance (usually through one’s employer.) (Saylordotorg.github.io) So in this current model, healthcare is essentially reserved for patients 65+, smaller public programs (like CHIP, VA benefits, etc) for specific demographics, citizens with a decent employee benefits, Medicaid (for the dirt poor), and the wealthy/financially stable. It sounds like pretty much everyone is covered someway somehow under this system with so many programs available, yet millions of Americans still go into debt paying for their care, and the seemingly all-encompassing social nets are far from perfect with too many hoops to jump through for coverage.
America is currently the largest economy in the world, yet the U.S. healthcare system is characterized as the world’s most expensive yet least effective compared with other nations. There are many issues that contribute the abnormally high cost of spending including the use of expensive new diagnostic tests and treatments, increased costs of health care goods and services, overuse of specialists, high administrative costs, and defensive medicine (malpractice insurance as well as tests and procedures done to protect against being sued for malpractice, rather than to ensure the health of the person.) (Merckmanuals.) One of the major economic drains from the aforementioned is the high administrative cost, which, if you look at the graphic, makes up an unreasonably large percentage of our health care expenditure. The reason is because of private insurance companies, as “having to deal with many different private insurance plans typically increases administrative costs for health care providers by making processes (such as claim submission and coding) more complicated and time-consuming and companies that provide private insurance spend money on marketing and evaluation of applicants to identify those with preexisting disorders or the potential for developing a disorder.”
The current US model for healthcare holds healthcare in the hands of private entities, which leave too many Americans without healthcare insurance(nearly 14%) (Gallup).I will be proposing a government-run universal healthcare which provides coverage to all and lowers our healthcare expenditure. This will be cutting out the middle-man and putting American citizens first.
