Single-Payer Bill Paper Example

Introduction

Single-payer medical care is a system where healthcare is funded by taxes. All essential costs of healthcare for all residents are covered by a single public system and therefore the term single-payer (Fok, 2018). Unlike multi-payer medical care is a system which qualified individuals, employers or private institutions provide healthcare insurance that is limited on the coverage. Single-payer pays for healthcare services to all individuals that reside in a state. In some cases, states may contract private institutions may contract for instance in Canada. Alternatively, the state may operate healthcare services when residents can be treated free of charge. In other terms, single-payer means a system which medical care costs are covered by a single public authority. However, the mode of delivery and the professionals working conditions may differ. The proposed single-payer bill shall reduce healthcare costs by decreasing administrative costs and controlling fees for physicians.

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Overview and Severity of the Health Problem

Millions of Californians have inadequate health insurance since the system dependent on employer-based or the profit health insurance. Moreover, most people cannot afford the expensive and unequal insurance plans that lead to homelessness, bankruptcy, death, and preventable disease. According to the California Health Care Foundation, 2016 report approximately 2.9 million Californians live without health insurance. Although the number was greater before the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014. The single-payer health care costs place unfair demands on taxpayers and businesses. The system is important as it ensures high-quality health care for all as cost-effective as possible. Moreover, the system contributes to a healthy economy by meeting the health needs of the public. The proposed bill will affect 38% of Californians adults (14 million) live with one or multiple chronic conditions. Approximately 1.5 million kids have asthma and the most predominant chronic illness for kids ages 0 to 17. Another serious concern that faces teenagers in California is type 2 diabetes.

According to a study conducted by Meng, Ahman & Pickett (2015) eleven million (40%) Californians experience the five major chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, psychological distress, and high blood pressure. Lack of affordable health care insurance makes these individuals delay getting the medical treatment they need. The results of the study showed that 34% of individuals with chronic conditions delay getting the medical attention they need regularly. On the other hand, 27% delayed filling prescriptions (Meng, Ahman & Pickett, 2015). When the participants were asked the reason for these delays cost or lack of insurance was repeatedly stated.

Most Californians live under 138% of the federal poverty level and hence they cannot afford the expensive health insurance provided by both private and public institutions. The prevalence of chronic conditions is higher in low-income families than the high-income group. The people who experience chronic conditions in the low-income group are 14% of the entire population while only 8% of high-income group experience these conditions (Meng, Ahman & Pickett, 2015).

Moreover, the occurrence of chronic diseases rises with age. Approximately 70% older adults in Californians (from 65) experience one or more chronic diseases. On the other hand, 26% of younger people between the ages of 18 and 39 have these chronic conditions.

The Californians adults with chronic diseases vary by region. About 45% of adults in the San Joaquin Valley, Inland Empire, and Sierra and Northern Counties had at least one long-lasting illness, compared to 36% of adults in Orange County.

Lack of medical insurance has adverse effects on an individual's health. These effects are the lack of preventive health services in diseases such as diabetes and cancer, underinsured people do not follow treatments that doctors recommend for them, and this leads to poor health. Weak growth and development among children is also an effect of inadequate insurance.

Effects of Inadequate Medical Insurance

There are several causes of low medical coverage among individuals. Cost is a major reason for inadequate health cover. According to a recent study done by The Institute of Medicine (IOM) on health insurance, the high cost of medical cover make many not to afford it and therefore remain underinsured. It is too expensive for people to afford to purchase private insurance and the monthly premiums which cost almost 50% of what the middle and low-income households earn. This reduces their access to health care (IOM, 2004). The other cause is that people encounter enrollment barriers. There are lengthy procedures for medical insurance applications. These make people get tired of spending their time and money on these proceedings. People are not aware of available options of coverage, and also the requirements for application (Simpson, 2004). Lastly, individuals who work for firms and institutions with no health cover lack enough healthcare insurance.

Results of lack of adequate medical insurance are very severe. If the single-payer bill is not implemented or there is no intervention for individuals with inadequate medical care are unable to get preventive services; they also face delays in receiving medical care which leads to poor health and as a result, this leads to low life expectancy, low quality of life, serious diseases which are not detected at an early stage leads to death.

Lack of preventive health services

There are some health problems which are silent, for instance, diabetes and hypertension. These diseases require regular check-ups because they are hard to detect. An individual with low health cover does not go for routine diagnosis hence they do not receive preventive care against chronic diseases such as cancer. This lowers their health quality leading to early deaths.

Many underinsured people do not follow treatments that doctors recommend for them. They cannot afford to buy the prescribed drugs because they do not have insurance to pay for it. People who after diagnosis, are found with a chronic illness that needs regular screening and check-ups do not afford for them, and hence their health quality becomes poor. This also decreases their life expectancy. Individuals with inadequate health cover are unlikely to obtain treatment that they need. They do not get proper prescription drugs due to cost, and also they postpone their therapeutic and diagnostic services leading to poor health. (Heisler, Langa,& Piette, 2004).

Poor growth and development among children. A child whose parents or guardians cannot afford adequate health insurance suffers from stunted growth. This is because he or she does not receive timely medical attention and also proper monitoring during their growth and development. The children are more likely to lack a source of care, have unmet health needs and also delay in getting care. They also suffer from common childhood diseases such as pneumonia and other injuries but do not receive proper medications.

Overview of the Bill and Stakeholders

Under the single-payer bill, state government offers either healthcare services or health insurance to all residents in California. In this case, the state utilizes tax revenue to provide direct medical care services or medical insurance. Moreover, the government is solely responsible for administering health care costs, rather than private health insurance plans operating a tax-funded insurance plan that covers all medical costs.

The bill provides that instead of purchasing private health insurance or making the employer provide the cover, people pay taxes to the state under a single-payer scheme. In other cases, the residents may get medical care services from private entities paid by the state or get services from professionals employed directly by the state.

The stakeholders include the state senators who proposed a universal healthcare reform is called the Healthy California Act (HCA) (SB-562). The bill was sponsored by the California Nurses Association, National Nurses United, and the sixteen legislators. The bill was introduced by Governor Gavin Newsom when varying for gubernatorial. It was later supported in April, 17th 2017 by State Senators Toni Atkins and Ricardo Lara.

There several expected outcomes of the single-payer bill in California. The bill promises to stop large-scale waste. In this state, a lot of money which was spent on insurance will be shifted to managing multiple plans, marketing the plans, executive compensation, and excessive profits. The funds will be used to campaign for donations and also lobby for policies that detract from medical care.

The bill is expected to stabilize costs that continue to rise beyond the rate of inflation (Health Care for All, 2018). The costs of medical insurance premiums differ and are expensive. Moreover, compensations for supplies and services are unpredictable. If the proposed bill is implemented, it would save a lot of money people spend in expensive hospital emergency rooms when their conditions worsen. In most cases, people are forced to pay extra tests (Health Care for All, 2018).

Under the single-payer system, there is freedom to make healthcare decisions. Private insurers impose different restrictions on the type of health care to be covered. These restrictions interfere with the freedom of both patients and doctors to select the best care that will be appropriate for them. The proposed bill would allow individuals to make independent choices of health professionals.

Problems of the Bill

According to Rege (2018), there are many influential health care institutions and physician groups that opposed the single-payer bill. Senate Bill 562 was by the California Nurses Association and a coalition called the Californians against the Costly Disruption of Our Healthcare. These groups stated that the bill would be very costly to the State taxpayers. Under the single-payer bill even the undocumented immigrants would be covered Christopher, 2016). The system would also cost the state a lot of money which may result in an increase in tax. The bill would also cause tradeoffs as the residents will receive limited social amenities. Other problems associated with this system include lengthy wait times and restricted availability of certain medical care services (such as cosmetic procedures or elective surgery) are significant criticisms (Christopher, 2016). It is not certain that the system will merge the disparity between the cost and quality of medical care in California.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would recommend a total mobilization of the public to support the single-payer bill. The major hindrance in the implementation of the bill is politics and hence the single for the two political parties to speak in one voice. The state should also reorganize the healthcare insurance system to meet the needs of all Californians.

References

Christopher A. (2016). Single-payer healthcare: Pluses, minuses, and what it means for you. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/single-payer-healthcare-pluses-minuses-means-201606279835

Fronstin P. (2017). California's Uninsured: As Coverage Grows, Millions Go Without. Retrieved from https://www.chcf.org/publication/californias-uninsured-as-coverage-grows-millions-go-without/

Health Care for All (2018). Why Do We Need Single-Payer? Retrieved from https://www.healthcareforall.org/why-do-we-need-single-payer

Meng, Ahman & Pickett (2015). Californians with the Top Chronic Conditions: 11 Million and Counting. Retrieved from https://www.chcf.org/publication/californians-with-the-top-chronic-conditions-11-million-and-counting/