Health Care In The United States

Health care in the United States has both its positive and negative aspects. On one hand, people in the United States have access to some of the most cutting-edge medical treatments on earth; on the other hand, many people don't have insurance to cover the costs of even the most basic health care needs. By keeping a good eye on the fine print in their health plans and keeping their jobs, Americans can often cover their personal health care costs, but rising prices and changes in employment patterns make this harder to do.

Identification

The United States does not offer universal health care coverage; approximately 85 percent of United States citizens have health insurance. Most people pay for their health care through either a health insurance company or government-sponsored health insurance, although the popularity of boutique medicine---in which patients pay a set fee for access to a doctor---is growing, and people who either cannot afford insurance or want treatments or physicians not covered by their plan must pay out of pocket.

Insurance

Over half of the people in the United States receive insurance through their job or a spouse or parent's job; the employer covers some of the cost, and the employee then pays a monthly fee. The government covers medical insurance for the elderly, federal employees, military members and veterans and some people with low income. Individuals can directly purchase insurance plans, but these tend to be expensive.

Plans

There are two major types of United States health insurance plans. A health management organization (HMO) has a lower fee, and patients pay less per doctor's visit, but members must visit their primary doctor for any problem they might have. The primary doctor then must write a referral to another doctor within the HMO. Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) have higher fees, but members can visit a specialist without a referral. Both types of plan only provide coverage for physicians that are in the health insurance plan's network.

Problems

The complicated nature of the United States health care system masks one basic problem: affordability. The link between employment and insurance makes it difficult for the unemployed or self-employed to afford medical care. In addition, the rising cost of health care makes it harder for employers to provide health care to their employees. Some employers hire part-time or freelance workers instead of full-time employees to dodge health care benefit costs. Insurers can also be lax in fulfilling claims. Some physicians take few insurance plans or drop insurance altogether because insurers refuse to pay up. Many people also have problems affording prescription drugs not covered by their health care plans.

Research

While the United States health care system may not be especially efficient at providing care to patients, the United States is a leader in health research, with large amounts of money spent on developing medical innovations. Most of this money comes from the for-profit health care industry. Non-profit foundations and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a government institution funded by taxpayers, provide other funding, although cuts in NIH funding have lessened that agency's role in research.

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