Proposal for New Healthcare System for the U.S.
There are unending debates regarding healthcare reforms in the United States. However, before proposing any changes, it is wise to first briefly analyze the merits and demerits of our healthcare system. The US healthcare system enjoys world-class medical facilities, great technological advancements and creativity, better treatment for those who can afford and its personnel are highly talented. In addition, the US system is the leading in medical studies and it has a lot of physicians in various specialties although they are unequally distributed. Moreover, the financing of US healthcare system is achieved through contributions from the private payers as well as the government and this has ensured that approximately 85% of US citizens are covered (Cooper &Taylor, 2009).
On the other hand, our healthcare system is blamed for being one of the most expensive among the industrialized nations and this has led to a lack of coverage to some citizens and it also threatens the feasibility of ‘Medicare and Medicaid’ as well as United States universal competitiveness (Donohue, 2008). It is approximated that between 37- 47 million US citizens, majority being individuals under 18 years, cannot afford insurance premiums and this is not acceptable. Furthermore, patients make health care decisions without examining the effects to their health as well as the financial implications. Besides, some individuals are denied coverage as a result of pre-existing ailments while others are discouraged by high premiums, co-pays and increased deductibles. To address these challenges, I would propose a client funded healthcare system consisting of “Universal Health Services Plan in conjunction with the McCray Plan” (McCray, 2008).
The vision for this healthcare system would be to ensure better, affordable and universal care for all citizens regardless of the pre-existing conditions, income levels and age with “no co-pays, no deductibles and no disavowal of medical benefits whatsoever” (McCray, 2008).
To obtain the required funds, the system would require that every US citizen pay two dollars per week. According to U.S. Census Bureau (2010), the US population is 310,561,532 million people and this would translate to 621,123,064 US dollars per week and around $32,298,399,328 annually in addition to the accrued interest per year. Parents and other government programs would be required to pay for juveniles and the poor seniors respectively. The system would also require that each housing proprietor pay $0.25 per occupant after every seven days and this would translate to $1.00 monthly and $12.00 annually. Additionally, cigarette manufacturers would be required to pay $0.25 per every pack produced while every newspaper would be required to contribute $0.25 per every advertisement and every magazine pay $20.00 per advert contained in it. Moreover, television companies would be required to pay $1,000.00 per advert while billboards advertisers would contribute $1,000.00 once per year. Furthermore, car dealers would be required to contribute $1.00 per car sold wile car washing businesses would pay $0.25 for every car washed. Financial institutions would pay $10.00 per every home mortgage while residential insurers would be made to pay $10.00 per year per client. The plan would generate around $52, 000,000,000.00 annually in addition to accrued benefits. To protect this plan from interference by politicians, it would be required that an individual opposing it be made to pay $1,000,000.00 before hearing their claims.
The system would require initial investment of $4,000,000 and become fully operational within one year. Individuals who join the plan would be issued with special credit cards that would be presented every time an individual seeks medical assistance from a health institution. Special gadgets would be installed in every health institution registered with the system and they would be used to identify the special credit cards whenever an individual is treated and transmit the data to the main system. Coding would be facilitated by the physicians and such health institutions would be connected to the main network. Healthcare providers would be compensated at the end of the month “under the proper medical codes” with the funds being sent to their respective bank accounts (McCray, 2008). The plan would seek to employ administrators who would be located in “Eastern, Central and Pacific” regions of United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010).
The system would ensure that every individual is covered and thus each citizen has access to health care. The plan would be beneficial to individuals who could not have afforded to take insurance cover due to high premiums. They would be required to pay just $2 in every seven days. Furthermore, the system would enable the government to save a lot of funds that are consumed by Medicaid as well as the Medicare. However, the system may be opposed by owners of businesses who would be required to pay for it. Moreover, employers may end up reducing the earnings of their workers so as to meet the cost. This may also make the housing cost to skyrocket. Nevertheless, the government should take appropriate measures to check such malpractices. Anybody found guilty should be highly fined and the funds be used to support the program. Another problem that can be anticipated is the tendency of patients to consume more since the program pays for their expenses. However, the perceived benefit exceed the perceived detriments and thus the program should be undertaken.
United States health care system has several strengths and weaknesses as well. The demerits can by addressed through client financed healthcare system that ensures universality. This system may benefit the uninsured although it may disadvantage businesses which would be required to pay more. However, its merits supersede its demerits and thus it should be implemented.
References
Cooper, E., & Taylor, L. (2000). Comparing Health Care Systems; what makes sense for the US? Web.
Donohue, T. (2008). U.S Health Care-Strengths and Weaknesses. Web.
McCray, R. T. (2008).Universal Health Services Plan in conjunction with the McCray Plan. Web.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2010).The U.S. & World Population Clocks. Web.