Sunday, April 26, 2009

American Health Care Essay Assignment

Comparative Analysis to Health care in the United States vs. Health Care in Canada and a little bit to other countries. Why is health care so difficult in the United States and why doesn't anyone do anything about it?

In the United States health care is a big issue that people and families have to face at least once whether it is a big medical treatment that is denied by health insurance or the big expenses and dept from medical care. America is supposedly one of the countries that spend the most on health insurance according to the OECD (Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development). This is ironic because America is also one of the countries with the highest prices and expenses for one to get health care services(Wikipedia.com). In America, there is almost no such thing as free health care. Insurance companies have made is extremely difficult for people to get the right health care, especially for those who are poor and cannot afford health insurance at all. The result of this is the 18 million out of 50 million people who die because of the fact that they do not have health insurance (Micheal Moore, Sicko). It makes one wonder why so many are left with no medical care. It is said that citizens from other countries such as Canada or Britain are far more healthier and have a longer life span than Americans. In Micheal Moore documentary Sicko, mentions that according to the Medical Health Associations, illnesses such as hearth diseases, stroke, lung diseases, cancer, etc are more common and significantly higher to Americans. What is it that causes all the citizens in other countries to be far more healthier? What system are they using that America seems to fail to adopt or realize? The answer may be free health care.

In the United States the health care system are run by a system known as HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). It is a specific type of health care plan that sets guidelines under which doctors can operate and are also mainly run mostly by private businesses. When joining HMO plans a person is usually given a negotiation of certain affordable health care and eliminate unnecessary treatments so HMO can reduce cost. A person is usually provided with one doctor where the doctor works with the HMO in determining what treatments a person does and does not need. Health care coverage through the system of HMO is supposedly to cost less than traditional health care coverage but the catch is that there is usually a limitation and denial of a range of different treatments(WiseGeek.com). In other countries such as Canada, the system is different but first to explore the difficultly that people face with the health care in the United States.

In the United States most people cannot afford certain medical treatments, and most people always seem to have some difficulty when dealing with insurance companies. In my family I have medical insurance known as child health plus and although I have come to many small annoying conflicts with my insurance company I am lucky enough to say I or anyone else in my family have not have any major medical treatments that were denied by our health insurance. As I wish I can say this is true for other families unfortunately in most cases people can be denied of medical treatment whether how extreme the medical problem may be. In the United States those who cannot afford to pay for health insurance or medical bills are thrown out on the street like garbage. This is especially true for homeless people in America. In Los Angles many who cannot afford to pay for a medical bill in hospitals are dumped by the hospitals to the Union Rescue Mission group in downtown Los Angles or maybe even just dumped out on the street(Sicko). This is shown in Micheal Moore documentry as he states "Is this what we've become? A nation that dumps their citizens like so much garbage on the side of the curb because they can't pay for the medical bill?" Those who can afford health insurance and afford to pay medical bills get the medical treatment they need but as for the others are associated to garbage. This is most likely why the 18 million people out of the 50 million die.

It is common to hear that Canada has a better health care system then the United States. Although this can be a matter of opinion. In interviews that were conducted during a session in history class there were many different opinions on the American health care system by common citizens in the streets of New York. Many who said that they very much liked the American health care system are people who were most likely either rich or are payed for by the government since they were people who worked for the government. For example was a elderly man on crutches, he stated that the health care system in the US was a 10 out of 10 for him and the best health care. He stated that his doctor charged him more for a medical treatment since he was rich and he was okay with that. This shows the idea how those who can afford the medical bills get the medical treatment they they need. Although others disagree with the American Health care system such as Scott Chesler who stated "Health is a right and the government should be giving people means to be more healthy." and that "If the government is not keeping us healthy then what are they doing?" He also mentioned that the health care system maybe should not be exactly socialist like England or Cuba but the government should definitely provide the health care that is needed. Unlike the United States Canada's health car esystem is more of a single payer which is a system where everyone is covered by the same plan which pays private providers(Class Notes, Andy Synder). The advantages to this is that since it is free it enables there citizens to get the proper health care they need. This may be one of the main reasons that some Americans citizens who cannot afford health care go to Canada to get there health care even though this is illegal if you are not an acutal Canadian citizen. Many Canadians who visit America on the other hand tend to buy insurance before stepping over the boarder because of the 'just in case' reasons since they do not want to get caught in the American Health system in case anything happens that causes them to need medical attention (show in Sicko). "It turns out that Canadians live three years longer then we do" (Micheal Moore, Sicko).

Another country with free health care along with England and Canada is France. What are some reasons that these countries are using this system and not America? I mean free health for everyone does not sound like a bad thing does it? One of the reasons is fear and protest. For example in Sicko, Micheal Moore interviews a group of Americans that are living in France and something I found insightful that was mentioned to why America may not be getting the basic needs they want as much as France is because the government in France are afraid of the people.As if the people run their country the government fear protest and bad reactions from the citizens. In the United States it's almost the complete opposite, the people seem to be more afraid of the government and are afraid of protesting. We fear the government that we are not willing to stand up what we believe is unfair or wrong. Micheal Moore also mentioned that as America sees another good idea such as a better car, a better wine, better technology that another country comes up with, America does not seem so hesitant to adopt that idea so why is it that America is having such a hard time being able to adopt a better health care system that will insure better health and at least one less hardship for all? The answer to this could be the conclusion that Micheal Moore's documentary when he stated that other countries" live in a world of 'we' not 'me', we'll never fix anything until we get that one basic thing right. and powerful forces hope that we never do." Without this basic concept of thinking as a country whole and not just about the money we make in out pockets America will keep being one of the only countries without free health care and will remain at a low on the list of good health care. And the "powerful forces" may have more power but if we continue to give them that power and not do anything about it we may never receive anything that will better out lives and our health.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Good work done by you on the insurance topic.

Kudos to you dear friend.