Can america's healthcare issues be solved?

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   Despite having one of the world’s most developed economies and the forefront of medical advancements, inequities within the United States healthcare system prevent many from accessing affordable medical services. Health spending per capita in 2020 was $11,945, about 66% more than the average cost in other high-income nations. However, the United States scores poorly on many key health indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality rate, etc, when compared to its counterparts in other parts of the world. Moreover, the percentage of people living in the US not satisfies with the current health system is much higher. Even beyond crossing political parties, 60% of people from multiple political affiliations agree our healthcare system needs change or even a complete reboot. The high costs of healthcare and a high number of uninsured people mean people risk bankruptcy for medical bills, clearly demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even Americans covered by insurance pay more out of pocket for services like prescription drugs and copays for doctor’s visits than other developed nations. 

   Our system benefits only those who control it, namely pharmaceutical companies and healthcare insurers who seem to be getting richer and richer at the expense of our lives. While the US may be pioneering the way for new, advanced medical technology, our current healthcare system is not sustainable in the long run. Other countries such as Japan and France have very different structures in place, opting instead for single-payer, government-run systems, or a mix of private and public options. Adopting some of their successful practices may very well be a step in the right direction to improving our healthcare system. However, with so much on the line and conflicting views on how best to implement these between different political ideologies, a dramatic makeover of our current healthcare system doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.

   Over 85% of health care costs are directly attributed to the treatment of chronic diseases, costing America’s taxpayers over one trillion dollars. This number rises to over $3.7 trillion each year, approximately 1/5 of the country’s GDP, if the indirect costs of lost economic productivity are factored in. As life expectancies increase and much of the world’s population continues to age, these costs are only going to get higher- estimates predict that by 2030, more than 80 million people in the United States will have at least 3 chronic diseases. However, many of these common chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, can be easily preventable through lifestyle changes and clinical preventive strategies.  There are many stages of prevention the government can employ: primary (intervention before the onset of the disease), secondary (detecting and treating the disease in its early stages), and tertiary (slowing the progression of the disease). Effective but low-cost strategies proven to save lives include vaccines and screening tests. However, lack of access and unequal distribution of these resources to the poor and marginalized means higher mortality rates in those neighborhoods. Effectively communicating these available services available through public service announcements, health fairs, mass media campaigns, and newsletters is key to helping “at risk” populations overcome hurdles in getting access to preventative care. Education and training through courses and support groups can help adults make more informed medical choices over their bodies. It is also important to address discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. The incidence of preventable diseases is exponentially greater than their heterosexual counterparts because of fear of judgment in the medical community, leading to a lack of early screening for diseases. Combined with lifestyle changes, increased awareness of preventative care services can help reduce rates of chronic disease and prevent the lost productivity and deaths associated with it.

References

How does health spending in the U.S. compare to other countries? (2022, February 14). Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-spending-u-s-compare-countries-2/

FastStats. (n.d.). Health Expenditures. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from FastStats. (n.d.-b). Health Expenditures. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats