The United States of America has the most expensive health care delivery system compared to other industrialized countries. The country spends more than 17% of its gross domestic product on health care compared to the 12% or less that other countries utilize. The country has the lowest public share of health expenditure although the number increases over time and provides coverage for less than a third of the population. This prompts patients to use out of pocket health expenditure making the system unaffordable. Various factors make the system this expensive:
The aging population in the country is small. The baby boom generation has increased and this has led to correspondingly more health care requirements. Lifestyle and behaviors are considered a major determinant of health, which in turn translates to health care needs. Obesity for instance took over 10% of medical expenses in the USA in 2008. The drugs, office visits and procedures are expensive in the USA. Research has indicated that compared to other countries, 30 of the most commonly prescribed drugs are a third more expensive in the USA. Office visits for physicians and orthopedics is hitting the ceiling. This is regardless of whether a patient is a public or private payer. The United States of America has the most distinctly advanced technology in the world. This expensive technology is reflected in hospitals where procedures like hip and knee replacements are conducted using expensive medical technology. Supply and utilization of diagnostic imaging equipment, which are considered important yet expensive has translated to high medical expenditure. New technology though gives patient a range of treatment options; it does so by replacing low cost choices with highly expensive services.
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"The Future Of Health Care Delivery In The USA".
Wasteful spending in the country contributes to more than a third of the total expenditure. Half of all health care expenditure in the USA is accounted by wasteful means. Defensive medicine and unnecessary procedures that are redundant have soared the medical bills. Other factors that can be considered wasteful are non-adherence to advice given by physicians and patients not completing their prescriptions. Alcohol abuse and smoking increase the probability of disease recurrence, which in turn is reflected in increasing high expenditures.Research has indicated that one of every six Americans, have no health insurance. Coverage would reduce the overall health care expenses a big deal. Medical errors are rampant in the USA. This means that procedures have to be redone and the expense are reflected in the medical expenses.
Soaring Health care expenditure in the USA cannot be attributed to high income or the fact that there is a high supply of doctors and hospitals. Higher spending is more probable due to accessible advanced technology and the increasing rates of obesity. With such an expensive health care system, financial constraints are created and the probability of creating a barrier to access of health care increases. Many households in the USA are finding medical care increasingly unaffordable. Research into the country’s health care system have indicated that in 2010, four in every ten adults went without health-care due to the escalating costs or they were uninsured and in other cases their covers did not protect the form high medical expenses.
Efforts have been made to control health care expenditure in the country. Tradeoffs for instance. They regulate access and prices. If lower drug prices are implemented it might slow research and pharmaceutical break-throughs. If the provider incomes are reduced the country might experience a shortage of doctors. There are many drawbacks that need to be measured against the opportunity cost of medical care and delivery vulnerable households that are forced to put up with the most expensive health care in the world.
