US Healthcare System: Expensive But Underperforming Compared to Other Nations - Essay Sample

Introduction

The health care system in the United States is undoubtedly unique compared to other industrialized economies across the globe. Notably, the US healthcare system does not contain universal care programs for all its citizens (Davis et al., 2014). The US care system is no doubt the most expensive in the globe; however, this article and its prior edition have consistently revealed how America underperforms compared to other nations across all dimensions. “Among the 11 nations studied in this report—Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States—the U.S. ranks last, as it did in 2010, 2007, 2006, and 2004 editions of Mirror, Mirror” (Davis et al., 2014). In sum, the health care system is termed as a hybrid since it has not been implemented in any other country. Moreover, despite such efforts including the formation Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to achieve universal health care programs in the US, about 10% of the population still has no active medical insurance cover (Davis et al., 2014). Therefore, the paper aims to discuss and analyze the health care system in the US compared to other countries across the globe concerning such aspects including accessibility and availability to care services

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Dimensions of Health Care

The five dimensions of health care include. Equity, administrative efficiency, access, care process, and health care outcomes. Equity involves the provision of care services in the absence of such aspects, including unfairness, avoidance, and remediable differences among different groups (Davis et al., 2014). Equity does not regard people's social, economic, and demographic aspects in the provision of equal care services. Administrative efficiency entails all processes centered on saving time, cost, and resources while improving quality patient care. Access entails the timely use of personal health services to get the best and quality health care outcome. The dimension involves such distinct steps, including entry to the care system and geographic accessibility of care services. The care process involves how the health care process is provided and thus provide a basis for assessment. Health care outcomes comprise multiple changes that arise from particular health care interventions.

Important Dimension

Ideally, access is the most significant dimension since other dimensions, including equity, care process, administrative efficiency, and health care outcome, cannot exist without the patient having access to care services. Moreover, the access dimension is a key component in evaluating whether the population is getting comprehensive care services, which is significant in maintaining and promoting public health, reducing disability, disease prevention, and overall equity (Davis et al., 2014).

The Country With the Highest Access Ranking

The Highest-ranking county is the United Kingdom (UK). Notably, access is perceived primarily based on cost-related problems. The United Kingdom has a well functional care system with a steady financing mechanism. Moreover, the country has a well-trained workforce, adequate facilities, accessibility to the reliable information base, which plays a significant role in decision making. Moreover, the country ranks first since it perceives access to healthcare as a basic human rights service to its citizens. The UK also has a balanced tradeoff between universal coverage services and access to specialized care services. “The Netherlands, U.K., and Germany provide universal coverage with low out-of-pocket costs while maintaining quick access to specialty services” (Davis et al., 2014).

The Country With the Lowest Ranking

The country with the lowest ranking is the United States. The ranking comes as no surprise due to the absence of a universal health coverage system. The US population misses essential care services due to cost problems as compared to the population in other countries like the UK. United States citizens have reported a large section of the population citing cost as the major problem of accessing care services. Notably, “Patients in the U.S. have rapid access to specialized health care services; however, they are less likely to report rapid access to primary care than people in leading countries in the study” (Davis et al., 2014). Countries with no financial problems and burdens have experienced effective access to care service accompanied by a well-balanced trade-off between universal coverage and specialized services. Despite having one of the most expensive health care systems, the United States ranks last due to the loopholes mentioned above hence need for adjustment through reinforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

Figure 1: How US Health Care System Compare Internationally

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

The primary significant elements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is basically about public health and community. The PPACA's main objective is to "make health care more affordable, accessible, and of higher quality, for families, seniors, businesses, and taxpayers alike." (Maga & Lewis, 2014).

Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Care Services of Beneficiaries

Quality and efficiency form one of the most significant PPACA component for all US citizens, particularly those who have enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare services. Notably, the payment for the care services will be adjusted, linked, and aligned to quality outcomes. This will result in substantial investment in PPACA in delivering quality care supported by multiple studies in the healthcare field (Maga & Lewis, 2014). The component has significantly changed since PPACA became effective by ensuring efficient beneficiary access to physician services and other related medical care. Moreover, PPACA has extended related Medicare bonuses and ambulance services, especially in rural, approximately 76% of the rural areas (Maga & Lewis, 2014). Moreover, the act has provided for a 12-month enrollment period for the spouse, military retirees, widows, and legible dependent children, whose primary objective is to improve quality medical care (Maga & Lewis, 2014).

Availability and Health Care Affordable Coverage

The component stipulates that an implementation of a qualified health plan would be in force through the newly developed American Health Benefit Exchange, which must create a provision of essential health advantages, including cost-sharing benefits. Moreover, the component necessitated states to establish an exchange benefit plan to assist individuals and upcoming employers in obtaining coverage (Maga & Lewis, 2014). The component has changed significantly by increasing the number of US citizens on the affordable coverage benefits. Out of the minimal requirements of the benefit plan, which are categorized as saving account, the amount deductible cannot exceed $ 2000 for individual household and $ 4000 for families. Moreover, “the benefit coverage is to be implemented in four levels with actuarial values in determining how much the insurer pays: platinum stage 90% pay, gold 80%, silver 70% and bronze 60%” (Maga & Lewis, 2014).

Conclusion

Ideally, the healthcare system in the United States needs improvements compared to other countries across the globe. I think the United States should adopt and implement universal health care coverage to improve the quality of healthcare services to its citizens. The PPACA has drastically changed the healthcare landscape, which has made coverage more affordable and accessible. I can now access cheap and affordable care services despite my geographical location in the country. I like the PPACA since it has improved accessibility and affordability of care services, but it has improved the overall public health of the US citizens

Reference

Davis, K., Stremikis, K., Squires, D., & Schoen, C. (2014). Mirror, mirror on the wall. How the performance of the US Health care system compares internationally. New York: Commonwealth Fund.

Maga, J., & Lewis, M. (2014). Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA): effect on the fastest-growing population, the elderly. International anesthesiology clinics, 52(4), 58-63.