Health Care Issues in the United States

Running head: HEALTH CARE ISSUES

Health Care Issues in the United States

Abstract

Health care in the United States has been a hot topic issue for many years. This topic has been at the fore front of many political figures as well as the individuals greatly affected by this matter. This paper will attempt to examine the health care predicament in this country. Whether it is good or bad, health care is an issue that is very needed for all as well as controversial. It is needed by everyone to receive proper health care in the case of good and bad health. It is controversial within the healthcare industry itself, because so many of physicians and other health care professionals morale’s has been sinking significantly over the past few years for a number of reasons related to the medical industry. These are issues that will be examined and will hopefully give a broader perspective on the subject matter at hand.

Health care in the United States is a well documented issue. There are issues with healthcare costs, health insurance, as well as the political aspects behind it all. Health care costs cause an uprising from consumers to the political arena. Everyone seems to have the right things in play that will solve this issue and afford everyone the opportunity to universal healthcare. Is it a way we all can have the best possible healthcare without the high costs? There are those that beg to differ.

Health care costs in the U.S. have grown tremendously for several years. These costs are attributed to the recent financial woes being faced by our country. According to The Henry J. Kaiser Foundation website (2010), expenditures in the United States on health care surpassed $2.3 trillion in 2008, more than three times the $714 billion spent in 1990, and over eight times the $253 billion spent in 1980. Stemming this growth has become a major policy priority, as the government, employers, and consumers increasingly struggle to keep up with health care costs (The KFF, 2010). This equates to about $7681 per resident in the U.S. This number is alarming. The more technology dependent and the more we research diseases and illnesses in the world, the more these number are going to continue to grow. This is something that is greatly needed. Healthcare is afforded to everyone, but not everyone can afford healthcare. Our healthcare expenditures grew at an annual rate of 4.4 percent in 2008, a slower rate than recent years, yet still outpacing inflation and the growth in the national income (The KFF, 2010). With the numbers increasing in healthcare cost, many people are going to go without in order to save money. Unfortunately for those individuals, who wait, may miss out on early