The U.S. healthcare system has undergone significant changes over the past decades, having a substantial impact on both the physical and financial stability of residents. It has become a subject of numerous economic and political interventions (occurring almost every year or during the election) which caused unintended consequences to the nation’s health. People suffer badly from multiple conditions, but they can barely afford any treatment since the costs are high (Chemweno, 2021). The overpriced medications, even the most primitive ones, are scarcely accessible to those without medical prescriptions. Not to mention that the nation’s expenses on drugs equal approximately 20% of the gross domestic product (GPD) (Brill, 2013). It is incredible that.
In addition, the problem of insurance concerns the astonishingly considerable number of individuals in the U.S. Around 27 million people live without having health coverage because they either cannot afford it or do not fit the eligibility criteria (Siegel, 2019). Even though the Affordable Care Act (ACA) supported by Obama in 2010 has brought about drastic changes, the insurance problem is still acute in the country (Siegel, 2019). The majority of people with middle income cannot acquire certain premiums which would guarantee bill coverage (Brill, 2013). The employees cut the staff solely for they do not want to provide full-time workers with insurance options, and instead, they hire freelancers.
In conclusion, the United States’ healthcare system can be considered irrevocably broken for several reasons. Intensive political and economic interventions (which occur almost annually) influence healthcare services’ accessibility and affordability. Additionally, these interferences affect the costs of medications. The insurance tariffs are costly to afford, especially when it comes to having full health coverage. At last, reforming American healthcare will demand enormous efforts and finances.
References
Brill, S. (2013). Bitter pill: Why medical bills are killing us. Time.
Chemweno, J. (2021). The U.S. healthcare system is broken: A national perspective. Managed Healthcare Executive.
Siegel, M. (2019). ObamaCare is broken and we should fix it. The Hill.