The healthcare sector in the U.S is faced with many challenges as the cost of providing healthcare rises in tandem with a ballooning population.
There has always been a disparity in the provision of healthcare as the larger population cannot afford medical insurance cover and the drugs. Cancer in the United States is quite prevalent among the citizens and the disease mainly affects the minority groups, in comparison with the majority in the population.
The essay addresses the demographics of prostate cancer in the U.S, healthcare demographics, and challenges faced in marketing the healthcare sector, as well as possible remedies to alleviate the posed challenges in the healthcare sector.
Cancer is the second killer disease in the United States, after heart disease (Fierro, 2006). Prostate cancer affects men and is the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer. It is estimated that by the end of 2011, more than 240,890 males of African American descent will form new cases of people with prostate cancer (American Cancer Society, 2011).
African Americans are more prone to prostate cancer than the white Americans. Over the years, the incidents of prostate cancer have been stable but it has been increasing gradually. In 2011, it is estimated that some 33,720 Americans have succumbed to prostate cancer (American Cancer Society, 2011).
Prostate cancer has been reported as the second cancer killer disease among the white race in the United States. Although the deaths have reduced among the American males, it is believed that African Americans are more prone and have a double likelihood of dying from prostate cancer than the white American males.
Prostate cancer is associated with risk factors like age, family history, ethnicity, and race. It is estimated that approximately 62% of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed among males of 65 years and above (American Cancer Society, 2011). This is because age is a risk factor.
However, prostate cancer is more prevalent among men of 50 years and above, with the prevalence estimated at 95%. The minority population in America is more prone to prostate cancer compared to the white American males.
These have the highest prostate cancer incidences compared to other members of the global population. According to the American Cancer Society (2011), the north Western Europe and North America areas have the highest incidents of prostate cancer compared to South America and Asia.
Another cause of prostate cancer is genetic predisposition, with genetic studies showing that at least 5% to 10% prostate cancer incidents are genetically inherited (American Cancer Society, 2011). Obesity has the likelihood of triggering prostate cancer, while processed dairy and meat foods have also been associated with prostate cancer.
The demographics in the U.S have been changing over the years. Immigrants in the U.S, especially the Hispanics and Caucasian and other minorities like the African Americans, are estimated to form a third of the U.S population. This population is expected to rise and become the majority group by the year 2050.
This increase is expected put pressure on the health care sector in the U.S because currently an increasingly higher number of Americans are unable to access secure health insurance cover.
The increasing immigrants have led to conflicts in the healthcare policies enacted by the policymakers. According to Albert (2007), the demographics show an increase in the number of the aging population among the Americans. It is estimated that more than 20% of the U.S population will be over fifty by 2030 (Albert, 2007).
This population has a negative effect on the healthcare sector because it would be dependent on Medicare health services. This would also demand more professionals in the healthcare sector especially physical therapy, medicine, and geriatric. It is believed that healthcare sector is expected to increase because of the aging baby boomers increase.
The healthcare sector in the U.S is faced with related challenges because of the changing demographics among its population. The cost of health care provision is expected to rise by 2030 in tandem with a rising dependence. The old and the immigrants who depend on Medicare will force the taxman to impose more taxes on the Americans in order to cater for the increasing demand of healthcare services.
Fierro (2006) notes that Medicare and Medicaid costs are expected to increase because the population demanding the healthcare programs is increasing. Policymakers are faced with challenge of reducing the costs but estimates show that by 2014 more than $250 billion would be required to fund Medicaid.
According to Fierro (2006), the ballooning medical expenditures are due to increased pharmaceuticals costs. This is likely to affect the old because they need more drug prescriptions and home based medical care which is expensive. This would affect the funding as more healthcare expenditure would be required.
According to Fierro (2006), home healthcare and drugs prescriptions have increased over the last decade. However, chronic diseases are allocated more than 83% of funds spend on healthcare services. The old are the ones who are supported by the chronic wellness programs that affect them at the old age. This is expected to increase the spending on Medicare by 96% and 83% on Medicaid healthcare programs (Fierro, 2006).
This is inclusive of the wellness programs set to take care of the old American population. The demographics of the aging population have the indication that the market for those in need of healthcare services (and more so the old) is expected to increase. This is because their number is projected to increase by 2030 requiring increased provision of medical services, drugs and home based healthcare facilities and medication.
Each year, the baby boomers are at an increased risk of contracting chronic diseases and this increases the demand for medical health care. Individual should engage in more health preventive measures like exercising to avoid chronic illness that is common among the young people.
Obesity and overweight is becoming a threat in the U.S and so are the related chronic diseases. The community and the society can engage the youth and other people to health eating practices and exercises to avoid diseases that may require wellness programs.
In conclusion, cancer kills more people in the U.S, with prostate cancer killing more African Americans males than the whites. The trend is increasing and related healthcare factors like age, race, diet and genetics being causes of cancer.
Males of 50 years and above have high chance of dying from prostate cancer than their counter parts of over 65 years. North America has higher prostate cancer prevalent rate than the southern part. The healthcare sector is being faced with the problems of increased costs; expensive prescriptive drugs as well as home based medical care.
More funds are needed to cater for the increasing population of the aging as well as funding the wellness programs for chronic diseases and illness. The market of medical services is expected to boom because the population of the aging is expected to rise by 2030. Individuals can engage in preventive methods like exercising and eating balanced diets.
Reference List
Albert, A. (2007). The Impact of Aging On Society: Our Changing Demographics. Web.
American Cancer Society. (2011). Cancer Facts & Figures 2011. Atlanta: American Cancer Society. Web.
Fierro, M. P. (2006). Costs of Chronic Diseases: What Are States Facing? The Council of State Governments. Web.