The US Healthcare System

In my opinion, the US Healthcare System could use an extensive overhaul. We are

supposed to be one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, but

if you have had any serious illnesses or injuries, you are likely to have horror stories

to tell about your experiences. I experienced that first-hand when a doctor

accidentally cut my posterior tibial nerve during a foot surgery and I subsequently

developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The lingering effects from that injury in

2000 are still with me today. I also learned that my surgeon intentionally

downplayed the incident in my medical records to the point that when I filed for

disability benefits, I was told that there was no evidence of any injury or disability.

When I sought care in another city, 60 miles away from the surgeon, I was able to

get a more objective opinion from a specialist who was not affiliated (or dependent

on referrals) from the other physician. It was also his truthful and objective

documentation that also ultimately allowed me to receive short term disability

benefits.

Our healthcare costs in this country are also out of control. A recent example of this

is Mylans EpiPen. (Mangan, 2016) The retail price of the drug rose to over $600 in

2016, while it was only $100 for a two-pack in 2008. Annual compensation for their

CEO, Heather Bresch, also rose more than 700 percent to $19 million. United

Healthcares CEO took home more than $66 million in total compensation (salary

and stock options) in 2014. (Whitman, 2015) In exchange for their exorbitant

compensation, families are going without EpiPens and families have had to drop

their affordable healthcare coverage due to excessive premiums.

Director Michael Moore in 2007 made a documentary about the health care system

and it was aptly titled Sicko. (DePalma, 2007) The movie began with horror
stories about people who were deprived of care because it was not affordable.

Sicko not only profiled the pitfalls of the US healthcare system, but also the

constraints of universal healthcare systems such as in the UK and in Canada. Mr.

Moore took several sick Americans to Cuba, where they ultimately received care

that they did not or could not receive in the United States. Another startling

statistic is that life expectancy in Cuba is virtually the same as the United States

and infant mortality was significantly lower in Cuba when compared with infant

mortality in the United States.

To improve our healthcare system, we have to ensure that we have enough

healthcare providers. Many people are unable to attend medical schools due to

cost, but even when they are able to attend, there are not enough available

residency slots. (Koeppen, 2016) Another improvement would be to not allow

health insurance companies to deny medically necessary services, which was also

profiled in Sicko.

I believe the only way to change the system is to remove the biggest barrier of all,

which is cost. The Cuban system emphasizes preventative care and clinic visits are

free. At the time of the documentary, Cubans also spent only $230 annually on

health care while an Americans annual average health care spending was $6,096.

To lower consumer costs, costs to provide care from all entities will have to be

better controlled.
Works Cited
DePalma, A. (2007, May 27). Sicko, Castro and the 120 Years Club. Retrieved from
NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/weekinreview/27depalma.html
Koeppen, B. M. (2016, January 22). Shortage of residency slots may have chilling
effect on next generation of physicians. Retrieved from The Hill:
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/266610-shortage-of-
residency-slots-may-have-chilling-effect-on-next
Mangan, D. (2016, September 7). EpiPen prescriptions jumped last month even as
outrage grew over price hikes. Retrieved from CNBC:
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/07/epipen-prescriptions-jumped-last-month-
even-as-outrage-grew-over-price-hikes.html
Whitman, E. (2015, November 20). UnitedHealth Group Mulls Losses, Blames
Obamacare, But CEO Stephen Hemsley Took Home $66M In 2014. Retrieved
from International Business Times: http://www.ibtimes.com/unitedhealth-
group-mulls-losses-blames-obamacare-ceo-stephen-hemsley-took-home-66m-
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