The American Health Care System - 1850 Words

There are more than 43 million people right now in the U.S. that live below the poverty line (Poverty Talk, 2016). There are 43 million Americans who struggle to make ends meet, provide for their families, and receive adequate health care. Those under the poverty line have a difficult time maintaining specific needs; I am especially interested in the effect that socioeconomic status has on the health of an individual, particularly those in a lower socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status focuses on either an individual or a group within a hierarchical social structure; it focuses on a combination of variables including occupation, education, income, wealth, and place of residence (Dictionary, 2005). The variables I will mainly be focusing on are income and wealth. While most working Americans have their healthcare paid for by employers, what about the 4.9% of unemployed Americans? The American health care system works on two different plans, Medicaid and Medicare, these plans were designed with the elderly, disabled, poor, and young in mind; I will be focusing specifically on factors of health for those with little to no income. Access to healthcare is another important factor that has a direct relationship to overall health of an individual. Research has shown that those with a lower socioeconomic status have a lower overall physical and mental health. The argument can be made that health is directly impacted by socioeconomic status with income being the biggestShow MoreRelatedThe American Health Care System1265 Words   |  6 PagesToday’s health care system is very different from how it used to be. There have been many changes that have taken place which represent the major shifts involved in moving from a plan which was based mainly on what the patient wanted, to a managed care system. The American health care system has evolved immensely over the past years and it continues to evolve to this day. As health care costs continue to rise, as treatments become even more costly, and as the population continues to age, it is essentialRead MoreThe American Health Care System1401 Words   |  6 PagesWhen you think of the American health care system, most people would like to think that it has evolved with the citizen’s best interest in mind. I realized maybe this was not the case after the story I heard from my sister. My sister has dealt with many health problems throughout her whole life from childhood leukemia to extensive back problems and most recently a serious heart condition. She was experiencing shortness of breath and was referred to a specialist to get further testing and imagingRead MoreThe American Health Care System1062 Words   |  5 Pagesthe American health care system and the harsh realities that come from associating with a free market health care system. We should also know about the different health care system offered in other industrialized countries. The Documentary â€Å"Sicko† shows us the lives of many people American and Non-American and their experiences with healthcare / health services ranging from U.S, Canada, France, England and Cuba. In all these countries, the only one that requires its citizens to pay for health careRead MoreThe American Health Care System1421 Words   |  6 Pages The American Health Care System When you think of the American health care system, most people would like to think that it has evolved with the citizen’s best interest in mind. I realized maybe this was not the case after the story I heard from my sister. My sister has dealt with many health problems throughout her whole life from childhood leukemia to extensive back problems and most recently a serious heart condition. She was experiencing shortness of breath and was referred to a specialist toRead MoreThe American Health Care System1823 Words   |  8 Pagesrising topic in the American society. It is a term which is used to describe the universal health care system. It is a system by which medical and hospital care for all minor cost are covered by means of government derived from taxation. The original meaning was confined to systems in which the government operates health care facilities and employs health care professionals. This narrower usage would apply to the British National Health Service hospita l trusts and health systems that operate in otherRead MoreAmerican Health Care Delivery System1544 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican Health Care Delivery System IP5 Angela Stewart American Health Care Delivery System America’s emergency rooms see this type of critical events as a daily occurrence. Often you will find that people will go to the emergency department for care because the ER cannot refuse to care for that come to be seen. If we look into the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act any person seeking care must receive assessment and immediate care for their ailment. Often the issue is financialRead MoreThe Current American Health Care System1094 Words   |  5 Pages685 April 18, 2016 Introduction The goal of the current American health care system is centered around making a profit. As discussed in both Health Care Meltdown and How We Do Harm, many doctors today are making a profit on over diagnosing and over charging, leaving patients with undesired care and little money. This system is not only straining practitioners and over treating patients, but drastically increasing the cost of care in America. As discussed in detail in each of the books, thereRead MoreObesity And The American Health Care System914 Words   |  4 PagesObesity is an epidemic that is putting uncomfortable strains on the American health care system. With just under two-thirds of the American adult population being overweight or obese, a lot of time and effort has gone into uncovering the causes of this rise in the weights of American citizens. Several theories have been developed to help solve the mystery of America’s rising size. Obesity cannot be traced back to a single factor, but rather m any aspects have contributed to the rise of obesity inRead MoreThe Legacy Of The American Health Care System1785 Words   |  8 Pageson January 20, 2009. During his campaign leading up to the election, Obama promised to bring affordable healthcare to all Americans. Obama was widely known as â€Å"stating that the cost of health care was a threat to our economy and that health care should be a right for every American (ProCon.org, 2011). While his quotes resonate with many Americans, there are also Americans who do not agree with socialized medicine or sometimes known as â€Å"Obamacare†. Keep in mind that just because Obama is a democratRead MoreHealth Of The American Population And Our Health Care System Essay1163 Words   |  5 Pagesquality of health care, the United States has taken considerable, yet limited steps towards progress. The United Health Foundation’s 2015 America’s Health Rankings ® Annual Report offers a comprehensive look into the health of the American population and our health care system. The 2015 Annual Report specifies, â€Å"Cigarette use continues to fall, immunization rates continue to rise, and there are long-term positive trends in reducing cardiovascular-related and infant deaths† (United Health Foundation)