Improving Healthcare Affordability and Accessibility in the United States

The current American healthcare system faces immense challenges, particularly when it comes to affordability and accessibility. This article delves into the issues and proposes actionable steps to address them, ensuring that healthcare becomes a fundamental right.

Understanding the Issue

The status quo in the U.S. healthcare system is exacerbated by significant disparities in how healthcare benefits are distributed. For instance, a waitress earning around $17,000 (approximately ￡13,500) and an engineer earning $104,000 (approximately ￡83,000) face drastically different tax burdens and healthcare costs. This disparity highlights the pressing need for reform.

The UK Model: A Comparative Insight

A recent comparison with the UK healthcare system, as pointed out by Quoran Hillary B., reveals some stark differences. In the UK, the first ￡12,570 (approximately $17,500) is tax-free, and the majority of taxpayers fall into the 20% tax bracket. Approximately 20% of the 20% tax goes towards the National Health Service (NHS), which amounts to about 4% of the individual’s earnings over ￡12,570.

Applying this to the U.S., a waitress with an annual income of $17,000 would pay a token 37.20 (approximately ￡29) in taxes, while an engineer earning $104,000 would pay 75 times more in healthcare costs. This stark disparity raises questions about the fairness and efficiency of the current system.

Proposed Reforms

Enframing Healthcare as a Fundamental Right

One of the core issues is the perception of healthcare as a privilege rather than a right. The healthcare system must undergo a transformation where access to basic healthcare services is seen as a fundamental right rather than a luxury.

Addressing Unfair Practices by Professional Associations

The American Medical Association (AMA) has been criticized for acting as a trade association whose primary goal is to limit the number of seatings in medical schools, thereby keeping competition low and driving up costs. Reforming such practices would help to increase the supply of healthcare professionals and, consequently, reduce costs for patients.

Implementing a Single Payer System

The current fragmented system, where insurance companies play a significant role, is riddled with inefficiencies. A single payer system, such as what exists in many developed countries, would streamline reimbursement, reduce administrative costs, and ensure that the pool of funds is directly directed towards patient care rather than profit-seeking.

Decriminalizing Pharmaceutical Profits

Congress has enacted laws that protect pharmaceutical companies from competition and negotiation of drug prices, allowing them to maintain high prices. Repealing these laws and introducing more competitive markets would bring down drug costs and make necessary medications more accessible to those who need them the most.

The Political and Economic Implications

The reform of the healthcare system faces significant obstacles. The interests of those who benefit from the current system, such as large insurance and pharmaceutical companies, often align with those of politicians who receive funding from industry sponsors. This presents a significant challenge in pushing through the necessary reforms.

It is crucial for ordinary Americans, and indeed the entire population, to recognize that the current system is flawed. While the rest of the world has moved on from the Victorian notion that wealth should come before the needs of the masses, the U.S. continues to grapple with this outdated mindset. The rest of the civilized world would not swap their healthcare systems for the American one, even with some perceived issues.

A government’s primary responsibility should be the health and welfare of all its citizens, not just the wealthiest. Only by addressing these issues can the U.S. healthcare system become more affordable and accessible to all.

Conclusion

The future of healthcare in the United States is a critical issue that demands urgent and concerted action. By shifting from a privilege to a right, addressing the unfair practices of professional associations, and reforming the healthcare financing system, the U.S. can build a more equitable and efficient healthcare system for all its citizens.