Your reading this week analyzes the process of making economic and social welfar
ID: 428690 • Letter: Y
Question
Your reading this week analyzes the process of making economic and social welfare policy. Healthcare reform is a prime example of "economic and social welfare policy." Discuss the causes of and solutions for the lack of health coverage for all Americans. What do you think is right/wrong, and what do you think could be done to improve our current system? Feel free to give your personal opinion and bring in information that you have heard, seen or read from outside sources such as the newspaper, television, etc.
Explanation / Answer
Healthcare and welfare reforms are vital for any country. However, this becomes all the way more crucial when it is about a developed country and especially as vast as the USA. Recently, There has been a lot of discussion publicly as to how their reforms have been performing as of today. Were they really able to accomplish the goals they were executed for?
Even if we put aside the political propaganda as it is always going to be there, and if we just consider the factors which have the most effect on the masses than anything else, even when the reality is far from promises that these reforms make to an average American.
As per the international comparisons of healthcare, United States is one of those countries which spend the most per capita on health than any other similar nations. However, the results are either at par or below in comparison to the other nations. This needs to be studied thoroughly to conclude the reasons behind it. Maybe the reforms are not performing well at the root level as they are perceived to be?
The costs for healthcare are trailing at an approximately $10000 per person in the USA if the stats are to be believed. Now that is a substantial amount of income being utilized for the healthcare and this is the grave concern.
As per the records, the number of companies/ employers who offer healthcare as a benefit has declined significantly. There can be various reasons for that which again needs to be understood.
As per one study was done by Harvard, it has been found that the deaths caused due to an absence of healthcare are reaching a figure of approximately 45000 in the USA alone.
There can be numerous other examples to show the actual performance of these welfare schemes which resonate with the ground reality. However, there are measures which can be taken, options which can be exercised to improve the efficiency of the healthcare In America. Few of them can be:-
1. Start sensitizing people as to how important the health insurance can be. Although, doing this will really make sense to the small sect of people who voluntarily avoid taking benefit of welfare schemes like these. But, every person counts so there should not be an option left to make a change.
2. Incentivize people for enrolling. Incentivizing citizens to enroll in healthcare can be a daunting job as it may strain the exchequer but this is needed and will compensate the government in various other avenues.
3. Extensive research should be done to ( state wise) know the exact situation on the ground. These facts and figures once gathered should be discussed by the concerned authorities to make the necessary amendments to the welfare scheme which can benefit the last citizen standing. Rolling out the schemes is one part and constant improvement is another which really makes a difference.
4. Greater allocation of funds to benefit the masses. As we have already discussed above how the U.S government already spends a lot per capita on healthcare there is still progress to be made. This cannot be done overnight but at least should be started on urgent basis. I think healthcare is as important as the defense allocation, therefore, there should be no hesitation on this as this too is for a greater cause and will definitely increase the quality of life of an average American
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