Healthcare system provides services to those who can pay for them; unfortunately, not all people can afford to have insurance and get medical care when they need. There are many poor people who are left behind this system and something needs to be done in order to provide these people with appropriate care and equal opportunities. Opening a free clinic is a way out of the situation as it will allow people without insurance rely on the system of healthcare in the country and significantly improve the their life quality. This project needs to include the analysis of economic issues and special needs in order to develop a coherent outline for further steps in project implementation. Economic Issues According to CDC (2012) there are around 46% of uninsured people in the USA. The distribution of the neither uninsured in nor equal; it is minimal in Massachusetts, but it merits 22% in Nevada. The number of uninsured children is less than adults; it reaches 7% of people under 18 nationwide. The report shows several trends in healthcare system. Up to 35 million uninsured people do not have any regular medical services for a year or more (Cohen & Martinez, 2012). Poverty is the main cause of lack of medical insurance in children and adults. 40% of poor children and almost 39% of poor adults experience the lack of coverage in healthcare services. Lack of insurance is most common in the group of people aged 24-35. The representatives of racial minorities are more likely to experience problems with healthcare coverage than others (Cohen & Martinez, 2012). These facts point out the economic situation which does not let people nationwide get the constant access to quality healthcare services. New free clinic can be a great contribution to... ... middle of paper ... ...reated by people for people; it does not appear from nowhere. Only is all people and organization cooperate with each other, the project can get enough financial resources, equipment and healthcare professionals to support local population. References Cohen, R.A. & Martinez, M.P. H. (2012). Health insurance coverage: Early release of estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, 2011. CDC. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/insur201206.pdf Notaro, S. J., Khan, M., Bryan, N., Kim, C., Osunero, T., Senseng, M. G., & Nasaruddin, M. (2012). Analysis of the demographic characteristics and medical conditions of the uninsured utilizing a free clinic. Journal of community health, 37(2), 501-506. Swartz, K. (2009). Health care for the poor: For whom, what care, and whose responsibility? Changing poverty, changing policies, 330-364.
On a global scale, the United States is a relatively wealthy country of advanced industrialization. Unfortunately, the healthcare system is among the costliest, spending close to 18% of gross domestic product (GDP) towards funding healthcare (2011). No universal healthcare coverage is currently available. United States healthcare is currently funded through private, federal, state, and local sources. Coverage is provided privately and through the government and military. Nearly 85% of the U.S. population is covered to some extent, leaving a population of close to 48 million without any type of health insurance. Cost is the primary reason for lack of insurance and individuals foregoing medical care and use of prescription medications.
Health Insurance is essential to Personal Well Being and your Health. For a large proportion of uninsured people, health insurance can and most often a matter of choice. Uninsured Americans normally tend to delay and even go without doctors' visits, prescription medications, and other effective treatments, even if they know they have serious or a life-threatening condition. (Institute 2009). 20 to 30 percent of uninsured children are more likely to need certain shots, prescription medications, asthma care ,basic dental care and other things that we would consider a must have. Uninsured children with conditions requiring ongoing medical attention are 6 to 8 times more likely to have health care needs and can’t get the required tools and medicine that they need. Uninsured children are also more likely than insured children to miss school due to health problems and to experience preventable hospitalizations. (Institute 2009)Many of these children are classified as being the minority out of the 20 to 30 percent of children about 15 percent are minorities (H.
Long, S. K., Kenney, G. M., Zuckerman, S., Goin, D. E., Wissoker, D., Blavin, F., Blumber, L. (2014). The Health Reform Monitoring Survey: Addressing Data Gaps to Provide Timely Insights into The Affordable Care Act. Health Affirs, 33(1), 161-167. doi:10.1377/hithaff.2013.0934
For example, income often determines one’s access to health-care. Researchers have found that low-income families are less likely to fill prescriptions, have dental coverage, and have preventative care visits (Ives et al., 2015, p. 170). Further, Williamson et al. (2006) declared, “professional treatment services…not covered by provincial health care plans, social services, or Indian and Northern Affairs were most frequently cited by respondents…as services that they choose not to use because of their low-income status” (p. 113). In addition to being unable to afford services, low-income individuals are often unable to afford transportation to appointments (Williamson et al., 2006, p. 116). Clearly, although individuals have the right to health, low-income individuals and families face many barriers in accessing and affording health-care services in
Wilper, A. P., Woolhandler, S., Lasser, K. E., McCormick, D., Bor, D. H. & Himmelstein, D. U. 2009. Health insurance and mortality in US adults. American journal of public health. Vol. 99, Issue-12, Pgs 2289-2295.
The growing number of uninsured and underinsured is on the rise. In 1979, 11 million African americans were uninsured (Jaffe 10). Today, the number is 15 million and it is increasing every year (Jaffe 11). According to the Department of Health and Human Services, thirteen million blacks in America have health care and fourteen million do not (Fitzgerald 31). Also, those who are insured today may be at risk tomorrow if their employer drops coverage, or the head of the household changes or loses their job. Most blacks in the United States who are uninsured simply cannot receive health care at an affordable price because their employer does not offer it and self-insurance cost much more. The lack of adequate insurance can be devastating to families both in financial terms and in terms of timely access to needed health care (Jaffe 12). Altogether, collection agencies report every year that most blacks are in debt due to unpaid medical bills, because they are not insured or they are underinsured.
According to the most recent numbers posted by the Census Bureau, an estimated 47 million Americans are uninsured. But let us examine these numbers closer. Of this 47 million, roughly 7 million are illegal immigrants, 9 million are on Medicade, 3.5 million are eligible for healthcare but do not pursue these available health services, and approximately 20 million families have incomes above the poverty level ($41,300 for a family of four) and can afford regular healthcare services with more coverage. Government tries to add all these factors together to make the numbers higher, in an attempt to gai...
National health systems are assessed by the extent to which expenditure and actions in public health and medical care contributes to the crucial social goals of improving health, increasing access to quality healthcare, reducing health disparities, protecting citizens from penury due to medical e...
spends about 15% of its gross domestic product on healthcare, thereby making it the largest sector of the economy” (Goldman, D., & McGlynn, E., 2005). “Americans are not healthier than some of the other developed nations, regardless of these extensive costs” (WHO, 2010). “Almost 40 million Americans are uninsured and about 18% of Americans under the age of 65 receive half of the recommended healthcare services” (Goldman, D., & McGlynn, E., 2005). “Though, quality of care was noted not to vary much in cities with respect to lack of insurance, poverty, penetration of managed care and availability of physicians and hospital beds” (Goldman, D., & McGlynn, E., 2005).
Medical Clinic. In , Free Clinics : Local Responses to Health Care Needs (p. 162).
Ku, L., and T. Waidmann. (2003). Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Urban Institute: How race/ethnicity, immigration status and language affect health insurance coverage, access to care and quality of care among the low income population. Print.
A health care system that provides free health care services to its entire citizen can be termed as universal health care. This is a situation where all citizens are protected from financial costs in health care. It is recognized around the globe as it provides a specific package of benefits to all citizens in the entire nation. For instance, free health care can result to improved health outcomes. In addition, it provides financial risk protection and an improved access to health services. There is an increasing debate on how citizen should be provided with free medical services. Although United State does not permit free health care services it should have free health care for all citizens. This is due to the fact that healthcare is the largest industry in United State. Due to the fact that United State is a rich country, it should have a healthcare system that provides free services such as treatment for its entire citizen. This will play a significant role, as it will stop medical bankruptcies in...
Despite the established health care facilities in the United States, most citizens do not have access to proper medical care. We must appreciate from the very onset that a healthy and strong nation must have a proper health care system. Such a health system should be available and affordable to all. The cost of health services is high. In fact, the ...
According to the data given, by CTISP Community Survey 2010 by a Central Texas Region, Health care has a direct correlation to a person’s income or lack thereof. Table 1 displays a graph of respondents to a community survey about Health Care Coverage. The graph contains income amounts from $15,000 to $85,000 and percentages of people who do not receive coverage based on their income. The graph shows the lower the income the less likely to afford coverage. Table 2 displays, of those who took the survey their reasons for having no Coverage. The reason with the highest percentage was “could not afford prem...
Health insurance facilitates entry into the health care system. Uninsured people are less likely to receive medical care and more likely to have poor health. Many Americans are foregoing medical care because they cannot afford it, or are struggling to pay their medical bills. “Adults in the US are more likely to go without health care due to cost” (Schoen, Osborn, Squires, Doty, & Pierson, 2010) Many of the currently uninsured or underinsured are forced accept inferior plans with large out-of-pocket costs, or are not be able to afford coverage offered by private health insurers. This lack of adequate coverage makes it difficult for people to get the health care they need and can have a particularly serious impact on a person's health and stability.