Healthcare in the US Essay

Introduction

The healthcare system in the United States has been improving over the years. The country is among nations that have a large population able to access medical care. However, there are many challenges that still exist which need to be improved to ensure a universal health care like other developed nations have done.

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Access to healthcare

The US uses a pay for service system and this has made it one of the few nations among the developed countries that do not have a universal healthcare. The lack of a universal medical coverage has been a debate for many decades and have had a significant effect on the American citizens. The Obama care was one of the initiatives that were introduced as a way of leveling the playing field and as a way of equalizing access to healthcare (US Census Bureau). The poor, the homeless and the immigrants are the ones who are most affected by lack of affordable healthcare. People of color have also been consistently been representing the highest number of people who are not issued. Apart from the Obamacare, the Federal government has a Medicaid that covers people from poor backgrounds who are above the age of sixty-five and children of the age below eighteen. The program also covers those with disabilities and people suffering from renal disease. According to the US census bureau, the number of Americans who were uninsured in 2016 was 50 million with 8 million being children (US Census Bureau). The US has another program known as the children Insurance Program (CHIP) that provides healthcare coverage to children under the age of nineteen.

Healthcare Providers in the US

The healthcare providers in the United States comprise of different organizations such as the private sectors, for-profit organizations and community hospitals. The majority of the healthcare care providers come from private sectors who control 58 percent of the market share. Despite have a large portion of the private sector controlling the health sectors, the US government has been cited as the countries that spend more on its healthcare than any other nation. The world health organization figures state that the US spent 17 percent of its GDP in healthcare in 2016 (World Health Organization,)). Despite this huge numbers, the US has not been able to have a universal coverage for its citizens. The US does not have a nationwide system where the government runs and control the healthcare facilities. However, there are hospitals that are run and controlled by the local governments and are open to the public. There are other facilities that have been designated for military personnel and is run by the US Department of defense. There are also other facilities that are meant for the veterans who incurred injuries while serving in the military. The VA hospitals and run by the Veterans Health Administration. However, veterans who did not receive injuries while serving are allowed to use the facilities but are charged for the services offered. Additionally, the government has set up facilities that cater for Native Americans. The Indiana Health Service is one of the agencies that fund such facilities and ensures people from tribal areas are able to access quality and affordable healthcare. The program acts as a cushion to those who would otherwise not afford private insurance. Apart from the private and government hospitals, there are also free clinics in the country that are run as a part of providing a safety net. The clinics offer limited services to those people that can not afford insurance. Other safety net facilities include the federally funded community health care centers that provide free services to residents.

Quality of Healthcare

The US has one of the most advanced research facilities and projects in the world. The specialists in the country are among the best in the world. However, the country faces a challenge of inequality when it comes to the treatment of patients because of the neglect of the primary and preventive care. Such an approach has made the US health care system to lag behind its developed counterparts (The Commonwealth Fund). The US ranks the last in its approach to healthcare when compared to countries such as Germany, Netherlands, the UK, Sweden, and Norway. However, it ranked fifth when compared to the quality of service being offered. The US also lags behinds in the number of physicians per capita compared to other OECD countries and the amount of money invested in healthcare.

Alternative Medicine

More people are becoming aware of alternative medicine in the United States and are willing to try the medications. Alternative medicines are those medications that are found outside the standard healthcare system (Eisenberg, et al). Some of the alternative medication include homeopathy, herbs, and energy healing. The increase in the use of alternative medicine has been cited as a way of people seeking ways of having control over their health. The use of alternative medication is aimed at treating both physical illnesses as well as the underlying causes either emotional, spiritual or nutrition. The insurance companies do not cover for this services and people tend to pay from their pockets making an accurate estimate of the spending hard.

Works Cited

The Commonwealth Fund. "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, 2014 Update: How the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally." The Commonwealth Fund - Health Policy, Health Reform and Delivery System Improvement, www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2014/jun/mirror-mirror.

Eisenberg, David M., et al. "Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the United States, 1990-1997." Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, vol. 54, no. 6, 1999, pp. 370-371.

US Census Bureau. "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: 2012." Census.gov, www.census.gov/library/publications/2013/demo/p60-245.html. Accessed 9 May 2018.

World Health Organization,. "United States of America." World Health Organization, 2015, www.who.int/countries/usa/en/. Accessed 9 May 2018.