The Rapid Increase in National Health-Care Spending
The essay addresses the rapid increase in national health-care spending. According to Yong, Saunders, and Olsen (2010), anticipated federal healthcare spending might increase by more than 300% in just 18 years, reaching $4.3 trillion in the next ten years. Medicare and Medicaid costs are predicted to account for 12% of GDP by 2050, and the article emphasizes that these rising costs affect not only the federal budget but also state governments and the private sector. The U.S tops the list with the highest health per capita spending, and for a family of four, the average annual health insurance premium costs are at least $13,000.
The Dilemma of Rising Healthcare Costs
A major point of concern is the fact that despite the rising healthcare costs, the health outcomes in areas such as life expectancy and infant mortality still lag behind in comparison to countries whose healthcare spending is less. Such is the dilemma in the U.S health care system; why the rising national spending on healthcare yet there is no significant improvement in health outcomes? How come countries with a less per capita spending on health have better outcomes than the U.S? These issues reveal that there is excessive spending, wastage, and significant inefficiencies in the system. Therefore, Yong et al. (2010) identify strategies for reducing the per capita spending on health while at the same time improving health care outcomes and passing the relevant policies for implementation of these strategies.
The Impact on Fiscal Challenges and Critical Investments
As pointed out earlier, the rising healthcare costs are a major contributing factor to the U.S fiscal challenges, and unless they are addressed, the country will run into severe future deficits. Another effect is crowding out critical government investment, particularly in the education sector. The authors also identify the main reasons why Americans spend much more for health care and the primary drivers are outpatient care costs, inpatient care costs, prescription drug costs and health administration and insurance. Therefore, the authors stress the fact that action must be taken to address the rising healthcare costs because the long-term effects will be tougher fiscal challenges, reduced access to healthcare by American citizens, and the crowding out of key investments.
The Proposed Action: Comprehensive Health Insurance Reform
The action proposed by the article is passing and enforcing the Comprehensive Health Insurance reform which will reduce costs and provide greater quality. It calls for the imposition of an excise tax on the high-cost insurance plans, reformation of incentives with the aim of improving health care delivery, and the creation of an Independent Payment Advisory Board. The reform will give a wider choice to individuals with health insurance, extend access to those who lack it, improve the overall health care quality, and play a role in reducing the deficit in the long-term.
A Proper Framework for Health Reforms
Also, there must be a proper framework for health reforms whose aim is to promote equity, quality, cost, effectiveness, and service sustainability. First, the demand for healthcare products and services must be managed and ensure that the supply matches quantity, price, and quality required. The provision of an adequate organizational framework that enables the deployment of appropriate techniques is critical in allowing the implementation of the reforms.
The Impact of Lack of Health Insurance
In my experience, I have come across people who do not have health insurance and they suffer a lot. For instance, a pregnant woman who had health problems was denied treatment because she was not insured and has accrued a large balance in a clinic. She was required to pay $100 for every visit but she did not have the money. Such is the state of millions of Americans who do not have health insurance meaning that if they get sick, there cannot get treatment because they cannot afford it. The article points out that people are spending greater amounts of the income in maintaining health coverage with 7% unable to pay for their necessities. Therefore, the comprehensive health insurance reforms will facilitate increased access to healthcare by covering a set of 10 essential benefits, ensure that no individual can be denied coverage for any pre-existing conditions, and provide access to lower costs health plans. Therefore, the federal government must take this issue seriously and be proactive in reducing healthcare costs without affecting the health outcomes.
References
Yong, P. L., Saunders, R. S., &. Olsen, L. (Eds.). (2010). The healthcare imperative: lowering costs and improving outcomes: workshop series summary. National Academies Press.