Health Care Issues in the US Government

Although the overall standard of living in the U.S. is higher than in most other nations, the level of health care offered by the government is still highly criticized because of its many faults. When it comes to issues being debated in the U.S. government regarding health care, most problems revert to money issues, the way the budget is handled and the services that should and should not be covered under the current regulations.

Significance

• One of the most debated issues regarding health care in the U.S. is the way money is spent. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the U.S. spends more money on health care than any other country in the world ($2.26 trillion in 2007), but ranks 37th in overall performance. This is because much of the expenditure is linked to medical innovations and technology, as opposed to direct patient care.

Considerations

• Another health care issue that is often present in government plans and debates is free access to coverage. The U.S. is currently the only industrialized country that doesn't offer universal free coverage to its citizens, something that the National Academy of Sciences has linked to the high cost of health care in the U.S.. Drug coverage is part of the issue as well because prescriptions are often not included in subsidized health care programs, even for senior citizens and those living below the poverty line.

Facts

• Medicare and Medicaid services are hot health care issues for the government. Because seniors cost the government more than the average American in health care services, deciding which services must be covered has been a continuous source of debate. Coverage for severe chronic illnesses is especially high if acute hospital care is included in the budget.

Prevention/Solution

• Very little money is spent in the U.S. for disease prevention. Many organizations have suggested increasing funding in this area as a way to eventually reduce general health care costs, but this is still far from being implemented. Preventive care, including early detection of chronic or severe illnesses, would require widespread access to health care services, which is currently unavailable.

Expert Insight

• Government programs cover less than 30 percent of the U.S. population, with the rest being covered by some type of private insurance (sometimes paid by employers), with 15 percent of citizens having no coverage at all. The fact that dental and vision care is not included in regular coverage is also an issue for debate, as well as the fact that government hospitals may shy away from better, although more expensive, diagnostic and treatment options, leading to more serious issues that end up aggravating the problem. Also, fewer clinics and doctors are willing to accept Medicaid and other government forms of health care, forcing patients to seek out private health care.