Disc 2 U.S healthcare

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Luis

 Health is often referred to as a human right, but the truth of the matter is that it is not. Heath is not a human right because if you are uninsured and sick, the costs to treat your illness may be astronomical (PNHP, 1999). This is why people without medical coverage will not seek treatment until there's no other option. In addition, some argue that healthcare is a service and not a human right because citizens must purchase health insurance to receive treatment (Coronado et al., 2014). Health care reform has been a contentious topic both in the United States and Europe over recent years, with many believing that health care should be free at all times and accessible to everyone who needs it (Washington Health Plan Finder, 2013). Specifically, people believe that all citizens deserve good quality health care regardless of their ability to pay for it or their social background.

     In the United States, healthcare is a right reserved for those who can afford it because they have the resources. However, the U.S. declared a health care system a human right. The Affordable Care Act can be seen as the first step toward achieving this goal, but it is obvious that it is not enough (Paine, 2013). Universal health care has been a long time coming in the United States. Everyone should have access to adequate health care services, regardless of their income level or tax bracket (Wahi, 2013). Some think that health care is something that should be available to the privileged few, and others believe that it should indeed be a human right for all. Many attempts have been made to implement new healthcare laws that cover more people, but the current healthcare system has been unable to provide services for more than 10% of its population (HTV Networks, 2010). For example, it guarantees that people with pre-existing conditions do not pay more for insurance, but some Americans still cannot afford their premiums.

References

Coronado, L., Crosby, A., Rascano, T., Saechin, T., Salazar, L., & Taylor-Weber, T. (2014). History and Development of the U.S. Health Care System. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRFKCXvy3-g (10:00)

HTV Networks (2010). History of Healthcare. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2mpgwGRJyw (1:57)

Paine, R. (2013) An Overview of the History of Healthcare. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RGpuO9F2nk (8:52)

PNHP (1999). A Brief History: Universal Health Care Efforts in the U.S. Retrieved from http://www.pnhp.org/facts/a-brief-history-universal-health-care-efforts-in-the-us

Wahi, M (2013). Historical Overview of U.S. Health Care Delivery. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w31xY0Y87dE&t=17s (41:26)

Washington Health Plan Finder (2013). U.S. Healthcare: a Short History. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82NINDT45DE (2:09)

Meghan

We, as US citizens, purchase health care. Technically, we invest in financial protection whether that is through the government, private health insurance (to include employers), or individual plans. In today’s world, someone is ultimately paying for the health care that is provided.  Under the Affordable Care Act, individuals are able to purchase their own coverage and even choose through a variety of plans. On the other hand, citizens are taxed if they do not have insurance coverage.  This is confirmation that US citizens pay for health care. One of the biggest concerns stems from the older population that they will one day lose their Medicare benefits. This coverage is most people’s safety net (Garner et al., 2011). 

The cost of care continues to skyrocket and has most recently been shown through prescription medications.  In addition to higher cost, advanced technology will look to impact those without insurance, which in turn will add to the additional spending (Aaron, 1990).  Unfortunately, the US has been identified to have over 42 million citizens without health care. Collaborative efforts among hospitals, physicians, and politicians will be critical to help map out future reforms (Madhav, 2011). 

Health is absolutely a human right. The World Health Organization (2017) has concretely stated that the right to health has been central to their identity and mandate. There are multiple factors when it comes to health. Those factors are: mental, physical, and social. Every individual has the power and decision-making on whether or not they want to be healthy and happy. Shifting more toward the outpatient world, coordinated care will encourage individuals to participate and become more engaged in their own care. The participation will lead to better patient outcomes and will increase the efficiency of healthcare organizations. 

Health care is the individualized pathway received by each patient. For example, I might receive an inhaler or nebulizer for asthma whereas my husband might receive physical therapy or undergo spine surgery for back problems. Health is the state of well-being. Again, this can include social, mental, and physical health. 

Understanding health as a human right creates a legal obligation on states to ensure access to timely, acceptable, and affordable health care (WHO, 2022). 

References:

Aaron, H., & Schwartz, W. B. (1990). Rationing Health Care: The Choice Before Us. Science, 247(4941), 418–422.

Garner, C. B., Berry, J. M., & McCabe, D. A. (2011). Tracing the evolution of American Health Care through Medicare. Health, Culture and Society, 1(1), 66–89. https://doi.org/10.5195/hcs.2011.53 

Madhav, T. J., Sethi, M., Mehta, S., & Nunley, R. M. (2011). From sickness insurance to health  insurance. AAOS Now, 5(4), 34–37.

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Health is a fundamental human right. World Health Organization. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/health-is-a-fundamental-human-right 

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Human Rights and Health. World Health Organization. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-rights-and-health