Top Complaints In Us Healthcare

By Felix Chesterfield

One would have to dig very hard to find a greater hot button political topic in the United States than healthcare. It is a subject where every politician will publicly agree that change is necessary, but almost nobody can agree on what that change needs to be or how to enact it. It has led to such buzz terms as ‘Obamacare’ and ‘death panels.’ Beyond anecdotal horror stories (which can erupt from any type of healthcare system), it is important to note what the main problems with the current system are. This article will focus on the four areas that have generated the most heated debate. The reader can probably think of a few others as they are going through this, but I will venture a guess that most issues could fit under these umbrellas with minimal effort.

Cost: One could make a strong argument that cost is complaint number one, two, three, and so on with the health care system. Costs associated with healthcare have risen at a rate far greater than inflation or wages. In fact, as of last year, it takes up nearly one-fifth of the nation’s gross domestic product (source: CBS News). Compare this to two decades ago and healthcare accounted for less than one-tenth of the gross domestic product. This is clearly felt among the nation’s citizens who are either paying more directly for doctor’s visits and surgical procedures or experiencing the costs through higher health care premiums.

Another big aspect of this complaint revolves around the fact that it is primarily the consumers that are feeling the pain of these costs. One may frequently hear doctors, drug companies, hospitals, and insurance providers lament the rising cost structure that they face (which is definitely true, they do face higher costs themselves), but it is impossible for them to be churning out the record profits that the industry has in recent years without giving the consumer even a greater markup.

Availability/Quality: One factor that had driven prices so high is a limited availability of professionals, medicine, and facility space. This number gets even smaller if the consumer is looking for high quality care. It is no secret that the United States is facing a physician shortage. Every year, its medical schools produce a limited number of doctors to enter the workforce. Meanwhile, an expanding population produces an ever increasing number of individuals who require the services of these doctors. Hospital space and drug companies also take advantage of the demand outweighing supply by driving their prices up in accordance with standard economics.

Tort: This is arguably the top complaint from those with conservative leanings, and it is certainly not without merit. In the United States, tort accounts for a significant percentage of the GDP as well. It leads to doctors going to unnecessary lengths and doing unnecessary tests that are not in the best interest of the patient just to cover their behinds in case they get sued. There are no caps in place and the burden of proof often falls on the accused. That last statement is not true legally, but when juries see a crying widow or victim and know that the health care companies have deep pockets and are insured, they often give awards based upon bad results rather than whether or not the defendant actually acted in preventable error.

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CBS News – referenced article UA – offshore medical schools File Healthcare Complaints in Penn

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