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This post is in response to the question "Why does the United States' current healthcare system have so many issues and what are the best solutions to the problem? posed by @haydenhirzel12.
The current United State’s healthcare system has many structural issues, and I recognize that I wont be able to address them all. Specifically, I may be missing information about some technical/bureaucratic processes that need solving, so I will largely focus on the resulting problems that citizens experience. First of all, the current state of healthcare as for profit and the current state of insurance cost and coverage plays a large role in why U.S. healthcare is largely inaccessible to lower, working, and even middle-class citizens. Insurance providers, although receiving large payments from workers, only cover certain ailments, and there are often necessary procedures that are labeled “elective” so the company does not have to pay it. Also, experimental and advanced technology and procedures are often expensive and not included in coverage which then causes patients to go without potentially life changing treatment.
In its current state, citizens are often forced to calculate whether its “worth” seeking medical help. For example, citizens who are unable to afford proper healthcare often end up ignoring physical ailments for far too long which often result in even harsher and dangerous medical problems. Medicaid and Medicare coverage only covers so much, and often citizens who use this are forced to go into debt after experiencing a medical setback. Additionally, workers are often penalized for taking time off to seek medical help as they may work in wage labor positions. Also, something that largely goes ignored in discussions of healthcare is the cost and inaccessibility of mental health care. This often leads to larger problems as well. Without access to psychiatric, therapeutic, or rehabilitative care, patients go undiagnosed and untreated for ailments that may greatly impact their wellbeing and physical health.
I cannot say that I know the answers for how to fix these issues, but even if profit centered healthcare is not the primary issue, insurance coverage is an issue that needs to be addressed in some shape or form. Accessibility needs to be increased.
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