Problems with the Healthcare System in the US
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The new healthcare bill has gone into effect. Is it enough? No, I don't think so. Many other changes and provisions need to be added. We need changes in all sectors of the healthcare system from the cost of private healthcare insurance to smaller charges on our healthcare bills and the list goes on and on.
We moved to a new area a few years ago and one of our adult children didn't have a job right away. With the current economy this shouldn't be a surprise. It took months to find a doctor that would take her because she didn't have healthcare insurance and she is diabetic. No doctor meant no pills. Without insurance this is a dangerous situation.
A friend of hers is out of work and has high blood pressure. He couldn't afford to pay for Cobra and a doctor won't prescribe his medication without a visit. They won't take him without payment first. Without enough unemployment benefits to pay his bills, he doesn't know what to do and is a stroke about to happen.
These sad stories could go on and on, but I think we need to look at some of the problems and what we can do as individuals to see change.
I can't blame this on the healthcare providers. Their bills come due and they need to be paid just like everyone else's. The rest of us get charged for unpaid medical bills in the long run because in the end their costs will be passed on to us. Everyone thinks that doctors make big bucks, but it isn't necessarily so. One of our doctors had to quit his private practice because he couldn't pay his bills due to patients that didn't pay.
The insurance companies are paying higher benefits as hospitals, doctors, labs and drug companies charge more. So they have good reason for higher premiums. They also like their corporate profits.
Physicians are overusing x-rays and lab tests in fear that if they don't, they'll miss something and will be sued. Next is the high cost of malpractice insurance, because patients can sue.
Then there are the signs at health fairs, county fairs etc that state there will be no charge for anything from chest x-rays to blood tests for those on Medicare. Seniors believe these services to be free, but in the end their Medicare is charged for them.
Many patients overuse the healthcare system. They visit the emergency room when a simple doctor visit the next day will take care of the problem. We all know the people that run to the doctor for antibiotics as soon as they get the sniffles. Many people are abusing the system just by their overuse.
We have a growing obese population which if they aren't already diabetic or have high blood pressure will in the future. Other problems are smoking, drug abuse, alcoholism, lack of exercise, and many other habits that need to change or will result in health problems putting an even greater strain on the system.
The high costs of drug advertising which costs the drug companies huge money and causes patients to ask for new and expensive drugs that they may not need are causing problems. What about hypochondriacs that are asking for care when it's not needed?
If you notice, everyone is to blame in some way. I'd like to hear other opinions on how we can change our system. National health care sounds great, but would taxes rise so high that they become unaffordable?
This entire system needs a huge overhaul. I like the idea of National Healthcare, but can we afford it?
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Ms Dee, Good idea. I think I'll look at check out the same thing.
Very good UP.
I had a tripple by pass a few years ago, cost$72,000 and just a few weeks ago 5 days in hospital and an angie- gram $ 8000.00. Not cheap but I am still hear.
Have a blessed day
kind Regards,
Cliff
Cliff, Thanks for commenting. We're happy you are still here. We've had a couple of hospital experiences too and they are enough to blow your mind. It makes you wonder how they can charge so much.
"If you notice, everyone is to blame in some way. I'd like to hear other opinions on how we can change our system. "
First, wonderfully written article and reform is needed, I think instead of reforming the whole system, we should look piece by piece at the things that cost and reform them.
That said, I don't think having adult children stay on Mom and Dad's policy until 26 is the answer. If college graduation is @21, most have a job by 24.
Like you say, providers have their expenses so a cut there may not be most efficient. However, we need to look at what the providers do to cause such a drain on the system. Extra tests. Many extra and expensive tests are ordered to prevent sometimes successful lawsuits. All because they're human should be human and occasionally miss something.
That leads me to another point. Lawyers find lawsuits very lucrative, even though many cases 'settle out of court.' There ought to be caps on awards granted. Some nearly bankrupt institutions, who then raise your rates in turn. So, torte reform is another biggie and even though the trial lawyers might not like it, some things have to happen.
Another needed reform is in malpractice insurance. Because extremely high awards can bankrupt a practitioner, s/he needs more and more malpractice insurance. So these physicians and nurses leave their chosen specialty (obstetrics comes to mind) to avoid lawsuits-sometimes resulting from things over which they had little or NO control.
Overusing the emergency rooms, over using the health care system. Over-using the ERs is a biggie, but unfortunately many ppl don't have PCPs, So they get routine care in the ER. This isn't always by choice, they may not be able to find a doc who accepts their insurance-or may not have insurance because of a pre-existing condition, or may be illegal. Attack these problems individually and we'll see what needs 'fixing' next!
We know we can fix the problem of no insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions. But there's more to that problem. Let's fix what we can, in every 'category.'
Yes, every one is to blame, patient's included. We ought to step up our emphasis on prevention of chronic illnesses and step it up hard and fast, as fiscally they're devastating. They're devastating emotionally, A bill was introduced into last year's congress about prevention, proposing that nurses work more closely with the Surgeon General to teach and inform the public; remember, knowing WHY obesity isn't good, isn't their 'day job.' This is one avenue to consider.
That's a start. We need to take care that in having these civil discussions on solving the healthcare dilemma in the US, that the THINGS THAT WORK aren't thrown out. Gabrielle Giffords is leaving the hospital tomorrow after a bullet to the brain and scrolling on her iPad! R and D needs to continue on medications, though BigPharma's profits need to be examined. Enoguh!
teamrn, Great comments. Did you know you wrote an entire hub here yourself! Thanks. I'm sure your comments will help someone. Maybe you should copy and paste your comments and send them to your Congressmen. Thanks.
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Ms Dee Level 5 Commenter 20 months ago
Seeing all sides of the issue is helpful. Now I'll go read the GOP's "Promise to America" and see if/how they address these real problems you have summarized. Useful!