The Future of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

The Future of Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid

Banking not only on the state-of the-art technology but also on its brilliant specialists , the US Healthcare system can be classified as one of the most advanced and sophisticated in the world . Much to the chagrin of 42 .6 million uninsured Americans , they are constantly reminded that this system is not efficiently working anymore with the uneasy recognition of problems such as inaccessibility and continuous increase in costs . Various proposals and changes were made by legislators in the system through the years , yet offering

no immediate relief from the crisis itself . Thorough evaluation is needed to be able to determine if the healthcare system is functioning efficiently and at the same time an assessment of its fairness - in other terms , the affordability of health costs

So , how do we categorize a good and fair healthcare system ? Comparing with other countries , the (WHO ) World Health Organization released data on 191 countries . 3 goals were defined as to what a good health system should look : 1 ) Good health ' for the betterment of the health status of the entire population spanning all life cycles . 2 ) Responsiveness to respond to people 's expectations of patient orientation and respectful handling by health care professionals . 3 ) Fairness in financing ' financial justice to ensure that costs are distributed evenly and depend on the individual 's ability to pay

According to WHO this good and fair healthcare system should have

Overall good health

Fair distribution of good health

A high level of overall responsiveness

Fair distribution of responsiveness across population groups and

Fair distribution of financing health care (whether burden of health costs is fairly distributed , based on ability to pay , so that everyone is equally protected from the financial risk of illness (WHO

The US Health Care system is a competitive market where health insurance companies dominate . Privately and publicly funded , these insurance plans provide for Americans ' healthcare services . Previously , health plan can be provided in one of 3 ways : 1 ) Direct benefit from employment or through a union , where benefits are applicable upon retirement . 2 Publicly funded programs , for example Medicaid and Medicare , which include qualified low-income individuals , above 65 years old and persons with disabilities . 3 ) Purchasing private health insurance applicable to self-employed individuals

This ideal system has greatly degenerated in the past years . Currently a number of employers may opt not to offer health benefits and the implementation of cost cutting measures , which resulted to reduced benefits or the removal of benefits initially provided to retirees Oftentimes , employment-based insurances that were once covered by employers now require co-payments and contributions from their employees

How did we end up with this kind of system ? An in-depth analysis is needed to know the truth behind one of the most controversial issue nowadays : HEALTHCARE

EVOLUTION OF A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

The Industrial Revolution signalled a new era in healthcare . Against the background of rapid mechanization of the work environment , is a proportionate increase in work-related injuries to industrial workers...