Health Care in America
Running head: Health Care in America
Health Care in America: Impacts on the Uninsured and Underinsured
Health Care in America Health care in America is a serious issue as it involves families that are unable to receive accessible, affordable and quality medical treatment. Middle class or impoverished families are unable to receive the benefits of health care due to low income levels and a volatile economy. Politicians discuss the reformation of the health care system, but people who are uninsured suffer the consequences of a system that overlooks middle class families in favor of wealthy families, a dominant issue for conflict theorists. Some argue that the health care system is not in need of reform and state that government programs would require higher taxes and reduce health care quality. Health care is a major concern among Americans. The rise in uninsured people and the unstable security of insured people are of prime importance in resolving this critical issue. It was estimated that 47 million Americans were uninsured for a year as reported for the 2006 US Census. In addition, another 16 million people were considered underinsured (Ginsburg, et al., 2008, 1). There have been many attempts to demonstrate how the politics of health care (government intervention, health care policy, and personal issues) affects the concerns of those who are uninsured and underinsured. Some argue that government intervention is a risk that can further weaken the system.
Many fear that a looming economic disaster will affect the health care system for the long term. Reed Abelson argues that the problem of unpaid medical bills is worsening the financial crisis: “Even as Washington and Wall Street debate the best way to avert an economic disaster, increasing numbers of Americans are struggling with another financial crisis: the growing burden of unpaid medical bills” (Abelson, 2008, 1). More employees are paying out of pocket fees for their medical
Health Care in America: Impacts on the Uninsured and Underinsured
Health Care in America Health care in America is a serious issue as it involves families that are unable to receive accessible, affordable and quality medical treatment. Middle class or impoverished families are unable to receive the benefits of health care due to low income levels and a volatile economy. Politicians discuss the reformation of the health care system, but people who are uninsured suffer the consequences of a system that overlooks middle class families in favor of wealthy families, a dominant issue for conflict theorists. Some argue that the health care system is not in need of reform and state that government programs would require higher taxes and reduce health care quality. Health care is a major concern among Americans. The rise in uninsured people and the unstable security of insured people are of prime importance in resolving this critical issue. It was estimated that 47 million Americans were uninsured for a year as reported for the 2006 US Census. In addition, another 16 million people were considered underinsured (Ginsburg, et al., 2008, 1). There have been many attempts to demonstrate how the politics of health care (government intervention, health care policy, and personal issues) affects the concerns of those who are uninsured and underinsured. Some argue that government intervention is a risk that can further weaken the system.
Many fear that a looming economic disaster will affect the health care system for the long term. Reed Abelson argues that the problem of unpaid medical bills is worsening the financial crisis: “Even as Washington and Wall Street debate the best way to avert an economic disaster, increasing numbers of Americans are struggling with another financial crisis: the growing burden of unpaid medical bills” (Abelson, 2008, 1). More employees are paying out of pocket fees for their medical
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