Underinsurance in the United States, Coursework Example

This version of the US healthcare system requires all persons to receive comprehensive coverage, including access to prescription drugs, with minimal out-of-pocket expense. This system is highly desirable, but the reality of the process is that this type of system would have significant economic impact and may increase wait times for services, similar to those offered in Canada (Schoen et.al, 2010).   It is inevitable that the burden of costs would eventually go back onto the consumer in the form of higher insurance premiums or out-of-pocket costs for copays and deductibles; therefore, this system is not necessarily feasible in the current climate (Husearau, Culver, Neumann, & Jacobs, 2014). Furthermore, this type of coverage would not be feasible due to the lack of staffing and resources that are required to accommodate an even larger insured population who expects a specific level of care and treatment (Husearau et.al, 2014).

With a system of this nature, it is inevitable that there will be significant challenges regarding out-of-pocket costs, even if the intent to improve coverage without these costs exists (Auerbach & Kellermann, 2011). In this context, income levels for many Americans will deteriorate in order to accommodate insurance provisions of this nature; therefore, it is not necessarily the most feasible alternative that is available (Auerbach & Kellerman, 2011). Those without insurance or who are underinsured face a number of important challenges that have a significant impact on outcomes; therefore, these issues must also be fully addressed in the context of care and treatment versus out-of-pocket costs for these services (Lavarreda, Brown, & Bolduc, 2011). This is an important reminder that comprehensive health insurance coverage is not free for any consumer and that the costs of these services will eventually contribute to income deficiencies and other challenges that have a significant impact on consumers and their overall health objectives, given the economic conditions that they are required to endure under these mandates.

References

Auerbach, D. I., & Kellermann, A. L. (2011). A decade of health care cost growth has wiped out real income gains for an average US family. Health Affairs, 30(9), 1630-1636.

Husereau, D., Culyer, A. J., Neumann, P., & Jacobs, P. (2014). How do Economic Evaluations Inform Health Policy Decisions for Treatment and Prevention in Canada and the United States?. Applied health economics and health policy, 1-7.

Lavarreda, S. A., Brown, E. R., & Bolduc, C. D. (2011). Underinsurance in the United States: An interaction of costs to consumers, benefit design, and access to care. Annual review of public health, 32, 471-482.

Schoen, C., Osborn, R., Squires, D., Doty, M. M., Pierson, R., & Applebaum, S. (2010). How health insurance design affects access to care and costs, by income, in eleven countries. Health Affairs, 10-1377.