The American Health Care System is Most Expensive but not the Best in the World

No doubt, the join States has gained enough attention on the derive it go pasts on wellness business organisation all(prenominal)(prenominal) year. Ten years ago, it was documented that the States spends $4,178 per capita per year on wellness keeping (Chua 5) with the second greatest spender pass al more than or less just half of what this field spends. Switzerland, which then held second place in wellness c be spending, spent hardly $2,794 per capita per year on health c atomic number 18. Up to the present, 15% of this countrys gross domestic product goes to health c atomic number 18 age to the highest degree of developed countries spend only an bonnie of 8.6% of their GDP on health sell (Chua 5). By far, the unite States is the greatest health care spender among the brass for frugal Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. In malice of the whop amount that goes to health care severally year, it could be argued that Americans spend a part on health care without providing the surpass possible health run to Americans. This is the slur that shall be defended in this paper. To be open to show that the American Health accusation System lags behind in spite of spending, it will be best to starting signal establish certain standards.For this paper, the standard frozen by the World Health Organization (WHO) should be used. In 2001, WHO pegged the goals of world health care into three sober health, responsiveness, and lawfulness in financial backing (WHO in self-confidence of Labor reproduction of the University of Maine 1). By uncorrupted health, WHO simply refers to having desirable health for the citizens indoors the expected life cycle. This would mean the handiness of health services that could aid the citizens benefit it a flourishing life from suffer until death.Responsiveness, on the other hand, refers to the extent to which caregivers are responsive to the client/patient expectations with imagine to non-health a reas such as being hard-boiled with dignity and respect (Bureau of Labor and Education o the University of Maine 6). Fairness in financing refers to a health care governance that makes the less privilege besides spend less. This means in all correspondinglihood having payment caps or similar services that relieves the less inner of health expenses. Given such, we could now interpret at how the American Health allot System measures up to such a standard.In spite of Americas adult spending on health care, more than 50% of spending is still through by surreptitious entities 35. 8% are paid for by private amends (American infirmary tie-up 6). Consumers out-of-pocket spending on health care grievance for 13. 7% of the 2003 health care expenditure, while other private expenditure estimate for 4. 8% of the expenditure (American Hospital Association 6). In spite of the very heroic per capita spending of the state on health care, out-of-pocket spending and other private expend iture are still big.This probably may non be a very bad thing, unless in spite of all the money departure to health care, a large 15% of non- venerable adults do non have admission price to health care since this population is uninsurable (Chua 1). Converted to numbers, this amounts of millions of non-elderly American adults who through whatsoever reason were unable to get each a publicly or privately funded damages. This puts this population at risk, millions of potentially or actually productive Americans whose health is at risk because of some faulty health care system.If millions of non-elderly adults are at a health risk due to omit of gravel to health care, the elderly also have their own share of problems in health care. It is true that the elderly remote 65 and to a higher place have access to Medicare. This means that the seniors have access to infirmary services, physician services, as well as prescription drug services (Chua 2). This sounds all good unless there are geriatric unavoidably that are not covered by Medicare. This forces the elderly to facilitate of premiums that would make their Medicare broadside more utilitarian for geriatric needs.The premium account would make the senior citizen have access to care for facilities preventive care coverage and coverage for dental, hearing, or vision care. As such, the elderly would have to spend a heart and soul of 22% of their income for the cost of health care (Chua 2). It could be noticed that the premium account covers services that should be basic for the elderly. These services may be optional for young populations but these become real needs for people aged 65 and above.As such, it becomes a source of wonder why an insurance card that is designed for the elderly and the handicapped requires an account upgrade for services like nursing facilities, dental, hearing, and vision care. The United States ranks seedy in infant mortality ordinate compared to other OECD countries it ranked 26th in infant mortality send among the industrialize countries (Bureau of Labor Education in the University of Maine 5). This speaks of a big problem somewhere in the health care system that fails to pen infants in instances that ought to be curable.America also ranked 24th among the OECD countries on disability-adjusted life anticipation rate. This means that many Americans are expecting to stay a part of their lives as disabled. This should not come as a force since millions of Americans do not have good access to health care. Given the above reasons, America spends too much but inefficiently. We may have the biggest spending rate on health care but America is far from being the best health care service provider in the world. Works Cited American Hospital Association. 2005.Overview of the US health care system. Database online. < kinsfolk 22, 2007> http//www. aha. org/aha/issues/CBHCS/index. html. Bureau of Labor Education of the University of Maine. 2001. The US healthcare system best in the world or just most expensive? Chua, Kao-Ping. 2006. Overview of the US Health dole out System under the AMSA Jack Routledge Fellowship. < family line 22, 2007> http//www. amsa. org/uhc/CaseForUHC. ppt. 2007. Health Care in the United States. <September 22, 2007> http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Health_care_in_the_United_States.