Unit 9- Final Paper
Britta Starke
CM 107-37
Making The US Health Care System More Affordable By Incorporating Alternative Care
Ten years ago the United States health care system was declared broken, has yet to improve and it is progressively getting worse. Premiums are on the rise and nearly 45 million Americans are uninsured. (Orszag R., Peter. (2010). In addition to this issue, Americans are getting sicker, not healthier and are still paying more and more each year. (Guiltinan, Jane (2013). If the United States focused more on preventive care and incorporated alternative medicine, the United States healthcare dollar would be spent more efficiently and in return reduce costs.
The United States does not spend its health care dollar efficiently. Approximately one-third of the 2006 health care expenses did not improve the health outcomes of Americans. (Health Care Statistics. (2013, May 24). In 2007, approximately 50 million Americans did not have health insurance. In addition, 25 million more were underinsured. In 2008, the average American family paid an estimated 12, 680 dollars for annual health insurance premiums. The US spends more money on health care than any other country in the world, yet falls in the middle range when looking at the health of the American people. (Health Care Statistics. (2013, May 24). With an annual federal budget of 3 trillion dollars, the US spends 2 trillion of that in health care each year. Chronic diseases that need continuous treatment are one of the most costly aspects of the health care system and one of the nations’ biggest issues. If this issue is not addressed effectively, it will make unaffordable insurance costs, even less affordable in the years to come. An estimated fifty percent of
References: Http://www.altmd.com ((2013, May 24) Http://www.healthcareproblems.org/health-care-statistics.htm ((2013, May 24.) Health Care Statistics Hastings, C., Arthur, PH.D, Fadiman, James, PH.D, Gordon, S., M.D. (1991, April). Health for the whole person. Page 153 Maciosek V., Michael, Coffield B., Ashley, Flottemesch J., Thomas, Edwards M., Nichol, and Solberg, Leif I