Health Care Reform Project
Health Care Reform Project, Part I
HCS/440
November 10, 2014
Health Care Reform Project, Part I
A current health care economic issue in the United States is the prescription drugs many patients must obtain because of the doctor’s orders to help with their health condition. In the United States, there are many individuals needing to consume their prescription drugs on daily basis. Although, these prescriptions are prescribed by their doctors many insurance companies did not have coverage for prescriptions drugs. However, the problem of not receiving coverage for prescription changes with the Health Care Reform Act. In this act prescription drug coverage will be included with the health plans available for the public. “The expansion of prescription drug coverage does not mean that every medication is covered nor does it mean that drug out-of-pocket costs will remain identical to the pre-reform health plan market” (Coleman, 2014). The consumer must understand the deductible and annual out-of-pocket cost limit of this coverage under the Health Care Reform Act.
To afford health care includes prescriptions and any other accrued medical bills. Individuals of working age suffer the most especially those without prescription drug coverage. The people without coverage had to pay almost double the amount of money of someone with coverage just to purchase the prescription drug. Some people had to cut other expenses just to afford their medications. In addition to the difficulties Americans face with prescription drugs, some have even taken drastic measures just to reduce or eliminate medical expenses. For example, individuals are skipping doctor appointments, declining further testing, failing to fill prescriptions, and cutting pills in half in order to maintain (Consumer Report National Research Center, 2012). This problem has been increasing drastically throughout the years and in some cases the patients will fail to follow their medical treatment because
HCS/440
November 10, 2014
Health Care Reform Project, Part I
A current health care economic issue in the United States is the prescription drugs many patients must obtain because of the doctor’s orders to help with their health condition. In the United States, there are many individuals needing to consume their prescription drugs on daily basis. Although, these prescriptions are prescribed by their doctors many insurance companies did not have coverage for prescriptions drugs. However, the problem of not receiving coverage for prescription changes with the Health Care Reform Act. In this act prescription drug coverage will be included with the health plans available for the public. “The expansion of prescription drug coverage does not mean that every medication is covered nor does it mean that drug out-of-pocket costs will remain identical to the pre-reform health plan market” (Coleman, 2014). The consumer must understand the deductible and annual out-of-pocket cost limit of this coverage under the Health Care Reform Act.
To afford health care includes prescriptions and any other accrued medical bills. Individuals of working age suffer the most especially those without prescription drug coverage. The people without coverage had to pay almost double the amount of money of someone with coverage just to purchase the prescription drug. Some people had to cut other expenses just to afford their medications. In addition to the difficulties Americans face with prescription drugs, some have even taken drastic measures just to reduce or eliminate medical expenses. For example, individuals are skipping doctor appointments, declining further testing, failing to fill prescriptions, and cutting pills in half in order to maintain (Consumer Report National Research Center, 2012). This problem has been increasing drastically throughout the years and in some cases the patients will fail to follow their medical treatment because
References: Coleman, K. (2014). Drug Coverage & the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from http://www.healthpocket.com/healthcare-research/infostat/prescription-drug-coverage-and-affordable-care-act#.VF-MG88tAiQ Consumer Report National Research Center. (2012). Sluggish Economy Forces Americans to Cut Corners to Pay for Medications. Retrieved from www.consumerreports.org on November 8, 2014. Leinwand, D., L. (2014). Narcotic pain pills to face tougher regulations. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/21/us-restricts-hydrocodone-painkillers/14387867/ Mozes, A. (2013). Prescription Drug Abuse Up Among U.S. Teens: Survey. Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/04/23/prescription-drug-abuse-up-among-us-teens-survey Openshaw, M. (2005). The Economics of Prescription Drug Price, Government Intervention and the Importation of Drugs from Canada. Nursing Economic, 23(6), 307-311.