The American Healthcare System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The American Healthcare System - Essay Example This is due to the fact that of all the developed countries in the world, the United States does not have Universal Health Care program for its citizen (Battista and McCabe). Instead of obtaining benefits from funds coming from mandatory taxes for health care purposes, US labor force receives health coverage from employer sponsored means. According to Alliance for Health Reform, in 2005, 159.5 million non-elderly US workers and their dependents were under workplace health coverage. Other means of coverage provides healthcare for the rest of 63.3 Americans (7). The issue on workplace coverage is its escalating cost. Employer-based health insurance premiums rose by 7.7 percent in 2006. Small employers witness an increase of, on average, 8.8 percent on their premiums. Enterprises having less than 24 workers experienced an increase of 10.5 percent (National Coalition on Health Care). In a country spending 16% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health care (2005 figures) and continuing increase in health care premium cost while, concurrently ranking poorly on vital health statistics, such as infant mortality, life expectancy for women, life expectancy for men, in immunizations, among others, there is a clear evidence of ineffectiveness and inefficiency on health care coverage in the most powerful nation in the world (Battista and McCabe). Looking at it in a broader perspective, the Uni... true that this system provided impetus for innovation and growth in technological breakthroughs in the United States, the same system also jacks up inflation and other inefficiencies. To obtain funding for this universal multi-payer healthcare system, the government should do the following: Impose a tax that would fund universal health care. To soften its impact to American laborers, a portion of taxes of other nature (withholding, income, etc.) that could be sacrificed for this healthcare system should be sliced off. Provide efficient methods, particularly on the use of modern technology, to maximize use of funds in administrative and maintenance use. Results of studies garnered by American Hospital Association pointed out that workers almost 30 minutes on paper works, resulting into less effective use of time for actual healthcare purposes (American Health Association). A task force or a newly formed commission can be formed to oversee this problem. Being a multi-payer system, private insurers for those who can afford can still operate as usual. A new task force or agency should act as a channel of information and communication and will handle issues concerning the collaboration and interaction between the government healthcare insurer and private ones. Possible Issues Issues concerning the fear of socializing the US healthcare service, and thus lowering the quality of US health services by implementing the universal system; the presumed high cost of enforcing and maintaining it; and the possible lack of necessary services will most probably surface out from those opposing the move for its implementation (Battista and McCabe). Democracy and free market rests on the principle of equality and equity. Rising costs of health care in the United States greatly