"It's no secret that health care costs are spiraling out of control in this country. While the quality and availability of medical care in the United States remains among the best in the world, many wonder whether we'd be better off adopting a universal government-controlled health care system like one used in Canada"(Messerli,J. 2011).The two most prevalent arguments have been a fear of decrease in the quality of healthcare provided by physicians and an increase in taxes. During research on maternal and child healthcare, I have discovered those that oppose such form of healthcare are those who have healthcare coverage and are receiving adequate healthcare which therefore attacks the credibility of their argument.
What about the families with one or more incomes who can't afford healthcare for themselves or their children and don't qualify for government funded programs because their income exceed the minimum qualifications? Let us not forget about the million of people that are our of work, are they not worthy of having adequate healthcare. We stand to a pledge of allegiance that states we are one nation, undivided, with liberty and justice for all, Inadequate healthcare is an injustice to all. It is our social responsibility to see ensure justice in this arena.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School say the lack of coverage can be tied to about 45,000 deaths a year in the United States — a toll that is greater than the number of people who die each year from kidney disease (Wilper, 2009). In addition to these facts, "One out of every 10 women who work full time is without health coverage. Even with health insurance, there are often disparities in benefits covered by her plan, out-of-pocket costs and access to the services she needs—almost 16 percent of insured women have been denied approval or payment for a health care service. And while the majority of women carry some form of heath coverage, a whopping 17 million women over the age of 18 are without health insurance in the United States"(Insureme, 16September, 2011). Even more alarming, the Children Defense Fund show 18.97% of children in living in poverty with an additional 8.5% living in extreme poverty within the United states.8,300,000 are without healthcare. With such devastating numbers, it my desire to begin a movement to promote affordable healthcare for all.
References
Insureme (16 September, 2011) Women and health insurance falling through the cracks
http://www.insureme.com/health-insurance/women-health-insurance
Messerli, J.(2011 November 16): Should the government provide free universal healthcare for all Americans? Retrieved: December 27, 2011
www.balancedpolitics.org/universal-health-care.htm
Wilper, A. (2009, September 17). Harvard medical study links lack of insurance to 45,000 u.s. deaths a year. Retrieved fromhttp://www.prsicriptons.blogs.nytimes.com
"Reforming our health care system affects EVERYONE and must not be a partisan issue. As Congress continues to look at reforming the U.S. health care system, you as a consumer must make your voice heard!
ReplyDeleteThe health reform law contains insurance expansions and vital consumer insurance protections that will improve access to care for millions of Americans. While political parties disagree on many health care reform provisions, there remains long-standing bipartisan support of Community Health Centers, who provide primary and preventive health care to all regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. One of the pros of health care reform is expanding the Community Health Center program through investments to expand their high-quality and cost-effective model of care, reaching 20 million additional people over the next five years. This expansion alone will save the health care system more than $122 billion by helping to keep people healthy and out of costly hospital emergency rooms"(NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS)
reference
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
http://www.nachc.org/googleadword-10.cfm?gclid=CN6Cnb_Z160CFQpY7AodEHbqkQ
"With fewer Americans receiving health care coverage through their employers, government-funded programs like Medicare, Medicaid, military health care, the Children's Health Care Program (CHIPS) and coverage offered by various states have had to pick up the slack.
ReplyDeleteIn 2010, 31% of Americans relied on the government for health insurance, up from 24.2% in 1999.
Many of the new government beneficiaries are children, according to Gould. Still, Census reported that 9.8% of children under age 18 are uninsured despite the government programs targeting them like CHIPS and Medicaid, which is also open to their parents.
Adults without dependent children, however, are not eligible for Medicaid in most states under federal rules, said Rachel Garfield, a senior researcher on the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. It's this group that accounts for a large portion of the increase in the uninsured.
Nearly one-in-four working-age adults are uninsured, said Gould. She said it won't be until 2014, when Obama's Affordable Care Act fully kicks in, that more people will be able to find affordable health care coverage.
Much of the declines in insured rates in recent years can be attributed to the loss of employer-provided coverage, which fell amid sustained unemployment and as employers continued to cut back on benefits.The average health insurance premium for family coverage has more than doubled over the past decade to $13,770 a year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit which focuses on health care policy and issues.
n 2010, 31% of Americans relied on the government for health insurance, up from 24.2% in 1999.
Many of the new government beneficiaries are children, according to Gould. Still, Census reported that 9.8% of children under age 18 are uninsured despite the government programs targeting them like CHIPS and Medicaid, which is also open to their parents.
Adults without dependent children, however, are not eligible for Medicaid in most states under federal rules, said Rachel Garfield, a senior researcher on the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. It's this group that accounts for a large portion of the increase in the uninsured.
Nearly one-in-four working-age adults are uninsured, said Gould. She said it won't be until 2014, when Obama's Affordable Care Act fully kicks in, that more people will be able to find affordable health care coverage.
In Massachusetts, where former governor Mitt Romney instituted his controversial state-wide health insurance plan in 2006, only 5.6% of the population lacks coverage, the lowest rate of uninsured of any state."(Christie Les, September 13, 2011).
Reference
Christie Les,(September 13, 2011)CNN MONEY;Number of People Without Health Insurance Climbs
http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/13/news/economy/census_bureau_health_insurance/index.htm