When will the medicine kick in?

A recent study in a series by the non-profit Commonwealth Fund showed that while Americans pay far more per capita for healthcare, they are unhappier with the results and less healthy than people in other rich countries. Unhappy because the costs are out of reach; Less healthy because we cannot afford the price of good health. Surely, this resonates with everyone. Our great country can offer so much by way of the most advanced technology, miraculous breakthroughs in medicine and the brightest scholars. But when it comes to health care, no one can deny that conditions are harmful for many, deplorable for the poor and dreadful for minority groups who suffer from more widespread diseases and dismal economic conditions.

An estimated 157 million adults have health insurance through their employer. Another 45 million over 65 and older including the disabled have Medicare coverage. Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 59 million Americans had no insurance for at least some of the beginning of 2010. This is an increase from 58.7 million in 2009 and 56.4 million in 2008. Of those without health insurance, 15 million had high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma. Some of these illnesses are more prevalent in minority groups, which also tend to have higher uninsured rates in the United States.

The problems related to health care costs are insurmountable for many. If we cannot pay for health care, we forego medicine, treatment not to mention prevention. Diseases that go undetected end up costing more and the rate of disease continues to rise. Hospitalizations that could have been avoidable could become the norm, which leads to outrageous costs. The outcomes are disastrous. In addition to unnecessary pain and suffering, the results can be loss of homes or bankruptcy because of unreasonable costs and lack of options. We have grave problems when there are simply fewer funds to maintain one’s health, something necessary for survival. Why does the U.S. lag behind other countries in something so vital? When will we start to feel better?

MUR