The Rising Cost of Healthcare, Coursework Example

Introduction

Healthcare costs continue to skyrocket in the United States and represent a serious challenge to the consumer population on many levels. There are many issues that contribute to and exacerbate this problem, as there are considerable problems across many population groups with respect to access to healthcare services, affordability, and competition among hospitals and insurance providers. Each of these factors has a significant impact on healthcare costs and the future of healthcare practice. Therefore, it is important to identify some of the issues that are most prevalent to consumers and healthcare spending as it impacts their own health and wellbeing. In recent years, significant attention has been paid to healthcare services and costs in the United States, including the historical background of these issues and how they evolved into their current state. Healthcare organizations have found it increasingly difficult to provide services to their patients without charging excessive amounts for these services, due in large part to the new forms of technology that are available as part of healthcare practice. These findings suggest that other factors must also play a role in shaping healthcare practice and in determining how to address the problems of the present and future, including those of elderly persons, who will serve as the focus of the following discussion.

Analysis

Affordable healthcare is an anomaly in some ways, as it is not feasible to provide healthcare that is affordable to the general population without insurance as a key component of this process. It is important to identify the resources that are required to ensure that healthcare is accessible to large groups of people. Healthcare reform is an essential component of keeping healthcare as affordable as possible, given the constraints of the current system and how it impacts practice settings (American Nurses Association). Financing of the American healthcare system is through private payers, including many different types of insurance that are available to individuals and families (American Nurses Association). In addition, publicly funded systems are also available, known as Medicare for seniors, and Medicaid for poor and otherwise uninsured. The manner in which this system operates is highly complex and requires a significant level of attention and understanding, which the average person does not have. Therefore, it is often the case that patients, who are the receivers of this care, are unable to understand their health insurance coverage, if they have any, and how it impacts their out-of-pocket spending. Therefore, many patients are unable to obtain the services that they require because their deductibles are cost prohibitive and they cannot afford this expense. This is a serious challenge of the modern healthcare system and does not provide the level of benefits and support that are required to improve healthcare quality in many environments.

The challenges of healthcare reform continue to prevail and require a high level of understanding of the mechanisms that impact patient care quality for all age groups, but in particular, senior citizens. The elderly often struggle with their health due to the aging process and the prevalence of disease. Therefore, it is important to identify specific factors that will play an important role in improving the quality of care that this group receives from its healthcare providers. The demand for healthcare in the elderly population is substantial; as a result, it is necessary to address these concerns and to recognize the importance of new factors that may provide important opportunities for system growth and change. Nonetheless, the risks associated with access to healthcare for this population remain large, as the elderly are financially strained with the current system and the level of service that is provided (Huffington Post, 2012). Through improvements to Medicare, however, prescription drug savings for the elderly are on the rise, in addition to improved preventative services for Medicare patients, and coverage for all preexisting conditions (American Nurses Association). These are positive factors that are likely to close some of the gaps that currently exist in the healthcare system for seniors and improve the quality of care that they receive. The elderly, nonetheless, do not always receive a level of care and treatment that is appropriate and acceptable for their needs, as care and treatment for the elderly is not always ethically responsible and appropriate for this population, particularly as they face new challenges that require them to use the healthcare system more frequently (Tronto, 1998). In this context, it is observed that many elderly persons face the burden of poor health and do not have a means of escape that will be effective in advancing their objectives to achieve greater quality of life in the later years (Tronto, 1998). This is due in large part to the issues involving the healthcare system that do not provide any real and lasting support for the needs of this population (Tronto, 1998).

Conclusion

Healthcare costs continue to increase in the United States and place a significant burden on many people, including the elderly. This places a significant burden on their ability to achieve a greater quality of life, and it also demonstrates a lack of focus and understanding of the healthcare needs of many elderly persons. Therefore, although healthcare reform is a positive step towards the growth of different activities related to the elderly, many issues remain a problem that require advanced solutions. This process is an important component of the practices that are associated with improving healthcare knowledge and reform for the elderly as a key component of the future direction of the system. This process will ensure that healthcare practice for the elderly is used wisely and provides an effective means of addressing important areas that require further attention, such as the burden of chronic illness and the realities of long-term care for this population.

References

American Nurses Association. Health care reform. Huffington Post (2012). Health care cost: expenses hurt elderly the most, report. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/health-care-cost-elderly_n_1858944.html

National Coalition on Health Care. Curbing costs, improving care: the path to an affordable health care future. Retrieved from            http://www.sph.umich.edu/vbidcenter/news/pdfs/NCHC%20Plan%20for%20Health%20and%20Fiscal%20Policy%20FULL.pdf

Tronto, J. (1998). An ethnic of care. Generations, 22(3), 15-20.