The Health Care Puzzle

The Health Care Puzzle

Health care in the United States has improved immensely during the past century. Improved technology has finally allowed us to eliminate deadly disease from our society. Unfortunately, the technology is expensive and has put monetary burdens upon the care receivers. No longer can a middle class American afford the astronomical fees for lifesaving operations in the hospital. Because of this, health insurance, like car insurance, flood insurance or fire insurance, has been established to assure its participant that he or she is able to be provided with the best care possible. Many horrible stories by normal people have shown that it hasn't happened. Deserved health care has not been provided, and many "insured participants" have suffered because of this. The problems of health care in the United States include: questioning of cost reduction techniques, allegations of death and injury, competition between hospitals themselves, and legal loopholes in the system. It's no wonder that medical care systems are under such scrutiny. One system in particular that has violated the system is the HMO, or Health Maintenance Organizations, a public provider which forces their patient to choose from an assortment of their physicians. Since their establishment, HMOs have gradually decreased the quality of patient health care significantly, especially in hospitals.

Debates over the health care provided by HMOs have arisen in many cases. For an alarming majority, organizations like the HMO are the only affordable option for providing health care. Since most people could never afford such costs as expensive surgeries, they have turned to HMOs to provide them with care, paid via a monthly premium. A variety of services can be offered to patients in one familiar place. In addition, the doctors are good because they are screened before acceptance by other qualifying physicians. Procedures are also given more objectively, because of no extra fee incentives for the physicians in prepaid programs, where the goal is to lower costs. Also, costs are about the same for every visit, and claim forms are kept at a minimum. Another advantage of companies like HMO is that there is a familiarity between the physicians of the HMO group. Specialists of all kinds can relate to each other because they are in a cooperative working environment. In contrast, disadvantages exist with these health providers. Since patients depend on them for care, they must trust the HMO also. This means that their health can be damaged because of a doctor's faulty decision making, instead of the patient's.