Health and Social Care Revision

     You can't turn on the news today without hearing something about health and social care.  Americans know that there needs to be change in the current insurance system.  Many Americans are living without health care insurance because they simply cannot afford it.  Small businesses are not offering it to their employees because it is just too expensive.  Some people are being turned down for medical insurance because they have a previous condition.  Making sure that all Americans have high quality health care is a priority of the Obama administration since the number of uninsured Americans is growing, the costs of premiums are unreasonably expensive, and more and more people are being turned down for medical coverage.  Obama and his team have vowed to make change to the current system.

     There are several aspects to the solution to this problem.  First, we need to reform the health care system.  This means that coverage needs to expand, quality needs to improve, costs need to be lowered, patients should retain choice with physicians and hospitals, and health insurance companies must be held accountable.  Second, we need to promote technological and scientific advancements in medical research.  The goal of the Obama administration is to find cures for diseases that are taking the lives of Americans ever day.  Third, preventative care needs to be improved.  People need to have better nutrition, participate in cancer screenings, and have regular preventative care appointments with their physician.  There also has to be investments in electronic health records which can help reduce the number of errors that occur in hospitals. 

    The Obama plan focuses on a number of changes.  First, he wants to improve learning.  This means that money will go towards an information revolution in which the best providers, treatments, and patient management strategies will be uncovered.  Second, there will be rewarding.  Typically doctors and hospitals make more money for performing procedures.  Instead, Obama wants Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to be given to hospitals and doctors based on patient outcomes.  For example, follow-up appointments that are kept and lower cholesterol readings.  Third, he wants to give small firms and individuals the opportunity to join large insurance pools.  The benefit to this would be that a few people with high medical costs will not destroy the entire system, and money would not be spent weeding out the sick so that they could not have coverage.  Next, we need to focus on preventing.  It is hard to believe that approximately only one dollar in 25 goes to preventive services.  Providing preventive care for all will help save money.  Finally, there are many hidden costs in regards to the uninsured.  By insuring everyone, the premiums will be lowered for the average person.  Obama also wants to provide tax credits for people still unable to afford private coverage.  He also wants people to have the opportunity to buy into the federal government's insurance coverage. 

     We are spending far more money on health care than many other countries.  Take Canada and Switzerland for example.  We spend 40% more on health care than those two countries.  Contrary to what many believe, the United States does not have the best health care based on the following statistics.  We rank 23rd in infant mortality, 20th in life expectancy for women and 21st for men.  Many people believe that the United States should go to Universal Health Care.  Others strongly oppose this.  Opposition states that it would be too expensive and would deprive citizens of needed services.  They also say that it would contribute to Americans losing their freedom of choice of health care decisions and providers.  Opponents also state that it is socialized medicine and this would not be acceptable to Americans.  Did you know that the United States spends at least 40% more per capita on American health care than universal health care industrialized nations?  Do you realize that with our current system, Americans are being denied health care based on their ability to pay?  Did you know that single payer health care is not socialized medicine? 

     In conclusion, there are a lot of reforms that need to take place in our health and social care system.  We would love to hear your thoughts on this matter.  If you live in a country that has universal health care, we would love to know your opinion of it.  Please post your comments and we will be sure to put your comments on our website for others to see.  Thank you!