Analyzing the US Healthcare System

U.S. Healthcare System: An Analysis

Healthcare System: An Analysis

The United States healthcare system is far more than simply a health insurance system with multiple contributors, neither is the government solely responsible for funding the system -- thus it is a hybrid health insurance system. The funding pattern depicts the system aptly, in the year 2010, 12% of funding came from local and state coffers, 38% from the federal government and 50% from private funds. Regardless of the source of funding, most people seek care from private health facilities (Dorning, 2014).

Primary Care

Individuals seek primary care for almost all the health concerns they encounter, for instance, one may look for primary care even for common afflictions such as viral fever, bacterial infection or influenza. Individuals also look for primary care if they think they have broken a bone; have skin rash or a sore muscle. Primary care providers (PCPs) could be physicians, physician assistants and NPs (Nursing Practitioners). Primary care is also about coordinating care, such as different kinds of health advice and referrals to the next level of care.

Secondary Care

At the secondary care level, the patient is taken care of by a more specialized professional of the medical problem, usually suggested by a primary care provider. Such an individual is referred to as a 'Specialist'. Such 'Specialists' could be oncologists who deal with cancers or cardiologists who specialize on heart problems. A patient will be referred to secondary care only when primary care level cannot provide the required solution adequately. Functionally, it is crucial for primary care specialists to coordinate patient care if they are seeing disparate specialists simultaneously.

Tertiary Care

This is the highest level of specialty care in health care facilities. Individuals approach this level if their cases require a level of specialization beyond both primary and secondary care specialists. The devices and equipment used at this level of care are highly specialized and quite expensive. The individuals working at this level have years of experience and exposure. they possess the acumen to conduct complicated procedures or interventions such as neurosurgeries and heart surgeries (Torrey, 2016).

Is U.S. Health Care Universal?

The U.S. health care is not universal. In other words, it doesn't guarantee basic healthcare for its citizens. Health in the U.S. is treated as a commercial product (only available for those who are well-off) and not as a public or social good. In the largely insurance covered healthcare system in the U.S., over forty million citizens (that cannot buy a healthcare insurance cover) are deprived of healthcare at various levels (primary, secondary or tertiary). Healthcare in the U.S., is thus, not a basic right, and a large part of the population has no access to healthcare.

Public or Private?

Healthcare in the U.S. is largely private since the majority of Americans are covered by private healthcare insurance. Until about two years ago, the average American spent 1074 U.S. dollars of their own money on medication, insurance deductibles, and doctor office visits. This was the second highest out-of-pocket spending in the world, while the Dutch and the French spent an equivalent of 270 and 277 dollars respectively (less than 25% of what Americans spent). The spending on medical insurance is expected to have risen significantly since then. In terms of private insurance premiums, the United States was again the second-highest spending nation at 3442 dollars per person. As of 2013, only 34% of Americans had public health insurance coverage, such as Medicaid and Medicare; in comparison, in the U.K, every citizen is covered by a public system at a spending of 2802 dollars per person. Thus, there is a need to change the system since the nation has already outspent the U.K., and are yet unable to provide each of their residents with the basic right of health care (Squires & Anderson, 2015).

Healthy People 2020

Healthy People 2020 is a government initiative that provides national health targets based on scientific evidences. For over 30 years, Healthy People 2020 has drafted standards and monitored the progress the government is making in healthcare. The main goals of Healthy People 2020 are: