National Healthcare
Why the Government Should Sponsor Healthcare
Ivy Tech Community College
Abstract
Every individual has the right to pursue happiness. If nothing else, the constitution created by the forefathers of America promised it’s citizens this right. Happiness is the ultimate goal, but an adequate amount of self maintenance is required before and individual can even contemplate the vast amount of options that are available in order to pursue the ever elusive state of happiness every individual desires. Basic health needs should be met. Does the right to be healthy come only to the wealthy? Should not the very backs that those in positions of power walk on be entitled to an adequate state of health? Someone has to do the menial tasks so that those with better opportunities and educations can rise to their place of power. Those in a place of power therefore incur the responsibility to contribute the well being of the very society they have risen within.
Table of Contents
Abstract
I. Responsibilities to self
II. Responsibilities within a Society
III. Current System
IV. Revisions in Motion
V. Options to Explore
References
I. Responsibilities to Self
When a child is born, the parents of that child hope for nothing but the best. But, what is the best? Is it based on the self esteem of the parents? Is it based on the social status of the parents? Is it based on the economic conditions of the parents and the society to which they belong?
In general, one of the most common statements that one may hear from a parent-to-be is “I don’t care as long as they are healthy.”. What a blatant lie. People not only wish for health for their child, but also happiness and whatever that may entail. At the moment of birth, there are no limitations. The world is wide open and all options are available. After all, this is America, the place that was built on dreams. To take things one step further let us consider that whatever you may call it, something created life in the beginning. It would be plain ignorance to believe that life was created in order to run a test on who could fill bank accounts to the fullest.
Let us assume for the purposes of this paper that every individual is entitles to their own small chunk of potential happiness. Fabulous. Now how exactly does that happen? Are we born and the pieces of our own personal puzzles just fall into place with ease? I think not. There is effort and hard work involved, not to mention the dreams that motivate all this hard work.
In exploring what it takes to create happiness, we first need to find out what needs must be met before a person can even consider finding some level of enjoyment. To do this we can evaluate the hierarchy of needs created by Abraham Maslow and explored in it’s context by D. Myers (2005). Maslow contends that certain physical needs must be met before and individual can ascend to the higher levels in life, such as self-actualization. Not surprisingly, the first needs to be met are physiological. Physiological needs are those such as hunger, the need for air and the lack of pain. Every individual can tolerate a lacking in all these areas and ascend to the next level. However, too much deprivation and the individual is stuck at the bottom level of this pyramid.
The next level is safety. A person needs to feel a reasonable amount of stability and lack of threat. To be in the best position to ascend to the next level, an individual should know the actions and reactions of the world around him or her and be able to tolerate what those actions and reactions may mean.
Once the safety needs are met, belongingness and love needs are in line. An ostracized person would have difficulty moving up from this level. Every person needs some amount of outside affection and attention. In this way, humans can move on to yet another level.
The level of esteem is a level in which a person is reasonably secure within their environment and themselves. This is the plateau that gives rise to the highest level. When one has made it to the esteem level, they are no dead weight on society. These people hold their own and are comfortable in doing what needs to be done.
Self-actualization is the highest level. On this level, the sky is the limit. Of course, every individual creates their own sky. All basic needs have been met and a person is more likely to explore life beyond survival. This is when a person begins playing a positive role in society whether it be through the accumulation of their efforts or the development of their own dreams, this person leads by example and creates a positive flow of energy in their wake.
This is where it gets tricky. All these needs can be met and yet there can be movement within the pyramid. A successful man for instance may come down with a severe case of the flu. While this in itself is not alarming, the impact on this mans contribution to society may be. His positive role is now limited because he is momentarily detained at the bottom of the pyramid where he is attempting to meet his physiological needs. Fortunately, this man is successful and has bought a private healthcare package so he is up and running in no time. But, what about the not so successful people? What about the man who isn’t even offered a healthcare package? How long before he is back to being a productive member of society? We’ll return to this question momentarily.
What is the timetable for an individual to get thru this maze, this pyramid of needs? Is it done within their first year? Their 30th year? This is an unanswerable question. What we can do is explore how a human develops and what factors influence his or her development. F.P. Rice (2001) explores this question in Human Development (fourth edition). According to Rice, each individual is subject to their own environmental influences, but there is a general timeline to be followed. While Rice can’t actually answer at what age a person should find happiness, he does contend that health is a major factor in the development of any human being.
So, how does an nonaffluent individual become affluent? Well, apparently it starts with good health. Each person has a responsibility to themselves to maintain a good enough standard of health to be a productive member in their own life at a minimum. Before good health is attained, any other ascension is almost impossible. What methods one uses in order to maintain one’s good health is completely up to the individual. The methods are not in question, only the result is.
Western medicine has an approach of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”, while eastern medicine lives with the philosophy that if it “breaks”, you need to find a new method.
Qi is very popular in eastern medicine. This is a method explored by M. Roach (1997). In her article titled My quest for Qui, Roach embarks on a journey into what would be considered an alternate route to medicine by most western cultures. Qi is a method by which the body is encouraged to create a positive flow which creates a healing atmosphere physically as well as mentally.
Another eastern method used is acupuncture. It has in fact been agreed by eastern and western physicians (Napoli, M., 1998) that the combination of acupuncture and western pharmaceuticals is the most effective treatment found yet for combating cancer.
Naturally, one should maintain their own health by utilizing methods that he or she is comfortable with.
II. Responsibilities within a Society
Before any member of any society can become productive, that member must meet certain personal standards. A depressed individual is as likely to have a positive role as is a person with a chronic and painful illness. However, in order to attain a minimum health status, one must have access to professional medical advisors. If one is not affluent and cannot attain affluency because of one’s health status, the simple solution would be to somehow obtain adequate medical attention, thereby enlarging the possibility of further personal growth. But how does one get adequate health care is a person is already ill and has no means by which to pay a medical physician?
The affluent became affluent because society at some point provided the opportunity for the individual to succeed. There was apparently a void to be filled and those that have become affluent have found some way in which to fill voids that provide adequate means by which to live a healthy life and prosper, therefore encouraging one to aspire to the goal of happiness.
Had society not provided this void in some means and the menial services which must be utilized in order to rise to a position of comfort, then no individual would be successful. Doesn’t the affluent individual in turn have an obligation to return said favor to society?
The government is in existence in America because America’s citizens say that they will abide by the government and not only vote in members of said institution, but will also thru their taxes, pay the salaries that provide a level of comfort to the official individuals. Does not this institution feel the need to at least provide the subjects that create and allow their existence with the possibility of a healthy lifestyle?
Sometimes one goes so high in the societal levels that they can no longer see what is holding their stature up. From the clerk that authorizes a person to begin the fuel pump at a gas station, the stocker working late at night to rotate and restock the shelves of the nearby grocery store, those tending to the elderly whose family members could not let their burden interfere with their own roles in society and all the other citizens who contribute to the turning of the wheel in this country, they all deserve at a minimum to be healthy.
How would any government function if there were no laborers or struggling small businesses to support them. How easy it is to overlook someone else’s difficulties when one has never seen that side of the door. Porter- O’Grady T. (2006) puts forth the question “How can America be affluent, yet the citizens struggle for health care coverage?”
Our country is a “superpower”, yet children go without immunizations due to a parents lack of paperwork that is involved in the grueling process of trying to obtain healthcare. Why is this a question? Why is this not provided free of hassle? Is an unhealthy child ever going to grow up to be a productive member of society? How could it?!
The fortunate in society have an obligation to the unfortunate. This should not be a question and should be delivered with an un grudging attitude at least. The citizens of this country are the providers of funds so that those who run this country can live lavishly. Aren’t those citizens entitled to a minimum of a healthy lifestyle opportunity?
III. Current System
It should be noted that currently there is a health program in place. True, the flaws are many, but still, a program exists. The Indiana Social Services Administration publishes a Demographic Trends Report on a regular basis. At this time, the most current report available was published in 2005. Refer to the Indiana website for more detail. This report gives guidelines which help determine one’s eligibility for government assistance. To date, one may qualify for medical assistance if one’s assets do not exceed the amount of one thousand dollars. These assets may be individually determined. If a person has a vehicle that is late model, that person will surely be disqualified and told tro sell their car. Fair enough. So how may this person now get to work? And what if the car doesn’t sell. If an individual has an insurance policy that allows borrowing and one thousand dollars are available to borrow, that person will not receive health care. These are the standards that have been in place for years.
According to Himmelstein, D.U. & Woolhandler, S. (2002) the current system is benefiting not the individuals that pay for it thru their taxes, nor the individuals fro whom the program was supposedly aimed, but benefits only “the private insurance companies”. Now, one may say “But there is a system that offers insurance and if one doesn’t qualify then they must be able to afford insurance”. What if a person is not offered insurance at work, but makes to much to qualify? Shall we just throw up our hands and say “oh well”?
There is a system in place and for it to be in place it must benefit someone.
Let us take a look at who really reaps the rewards of our tax dollars. To do this, we will narrow down the target to one state, Indiana. Indiana has recently “privatized” the welfare system. What this essentially means is that we have sold our rights to an insurance company. What do insurance companies do? Ever heard of a nonprofit insurance company? Of course not. Their job is to find ways to provide insurance payments only if there is not a loophole thru which they can escape. Who creates these loopholes? You guessed it, the insurance companies.
Now, employees who were hired by the state of Indiana to provide social service assistance for needy Hoosiers, now find themselves working for a private entity and losing jobs as well as benefits in the process. Who does this benefit? The insurance companies. Medicaid recipients are not billed for medical services. However, the insurance company that is now Hoosier Healthwise gets to dictate to the medical providers what they will pay instead of paying what the providers ask. Sounds like a good deal for us taxpayers, getting medical costs dropped. However, someone has to absorb these costs. Individuals who actually have private insurance will have increased costs. Of course, there is a copay and a set rate a private insurance company will pay. The individual pays what’s left.
The fact is that one of the largest insurance providers in the United States has taken over Indiana’s healthcare. And why wouldn’t they? An entire state of medical providers are now subject to Anthem’s whim. Citizen’s taxes pay anthem, anthem dictates who can receive goods paid for by the citizens and then dictates how much Anthem will pay for those goods. In what other industry can a company control exactly what they will pay for goods instead of paying the asking price?
Not only is the system that was created to help the poor now focused on turning a profit, but they can also tell families by what method they will be treated. Only certain types of medical assistance are paid for. Deals with pharmaceutical companies ensure what prescriptions are covered under the current plan and some types of medical expertise are not even recognized. The current Medicaid program will not pay for acupuncture, qi development or yoga classes, all of which have been proven to have preventative medical effects on the body. In fact, this insurance will not pay for an emergency room visit if “they” decide it wasn’t really an emergency.
In a country that seems so focused on not providing adequate coverage for it’s citizens, we also find that those same citizens will be penalized for choosing their own types of care. Spiritual healing is not accepted by the federal government. Merrick, J. (2003) cites specific incidents in which parents are prosecuted and at times, imprisoned due to their lack of acceptance of conventional medical methods. There is no refusing medicines for anyone a person may be guardian of, no matter what the faith or belief. Apparently God has made no contract with Anthem.
So what can be done to change the way things are? Apparently American’s have forgotten the line “We the People”. There are changes to be made and the ones standing on top are not going to comedown to do it. Gee, E.P. (2001) , an executive in strategic planning for healthcare services encourages Americans to ‘take a stand and demand reform.” . This article reminds people what made this country great and questions the current lack of motivation within it. Perhaps America needs to step up to the plate.
Revisions in Motion
Since Indiana has been privatized, some changes have been made within the Social Services Administration. There has been a new healthcare system voted into action. The Indiana Government Website presents a generalized packet which describes the plan in part. There are monetary incentives in place which are aimed at encouraging Hoosiers to focus on limiting their health risks.
One of the most important changes that will take place when this plan goes into effect in 2008 is that single, low income individuals may now obtain, on a limited basis, health insurance through Medicaid. There are a limited number of openings, less than ¼ of what is needed in truth, but this is possible progress. The catch is that Hoosiers will now have to pay for Medicaid and are only eligible if they fall into very limited income limits, have no other insurance offered to them and make their Medicaid payments on time. Any deviation from this plan results in 12 months with no insurance from Medicaid. Another requirement is that an individual must be without any kind of insurance for no less than six months before applying for this particular plan.
There are also copays for Emergency Room visits, which will be waived pending Medicaid’s decision that the trip was an actual emergency. Traditionally Medicaid has refused to pay if the insured has not gotten approval from either Medicaid or their family physician for the Emergency Room visit. In other words, a parent needs to encourage their children to avoid those late night unbreakable fevers which lead to so many ER visits unless they have a nest egg stashed and don’t mind handing it over for the sake of ten minutes of emergency medical expertise.
The bottom line is that while the new system may be available to more individuals than it previously has, it comes with a price, literally. The same standards apply that have always applied. The same paperwork will be demanded and the same lengthy waiting period will be enforced. The only new question is “Will that be cash, check or charge?”.
V. Options to Explore
What right does any author have to file a complaint without offering an alternative solution. If there is no option to offer, then silence the author.
Fortunately for this write, there are options. Lebien L. (1996) has written a comprehensive article about the famous Canadian healthcare system that leaves one to wonder how every nation has not put the same system into practice. The Canadian healthcare system provides its citizens with healthcare at no direct cost to the citizens that cannot afford it. The expenses are taken directly from the taxes paid by the citizens, hence the wealthy help the needy. The Canadian Government matches what the wealthy pay dollar for dollar. One may ask how this is possible. One example of changes the Canadians have made to cut costs is that all the billing is done directly to the government. The government pays their portion, then bills the insured if need be. This eliminates the multiple codes and billing methods that are presently in place in the United States.
There were originally issues such as the physicians attempting to bill the patients separately as well, but the Canadian government has put in place hefty penalties for any excessive billing that takes place. While the government does regulate what a physician can charge, they also encourage physicians to open a practice by providing a 120% match for physicians opening a business in some underdeveloped or rural areas.
For further comparisons of America’s health coverage to Canadian Health coverage, refer to the Canadian Health Care Home page. This website gives a basic look at where America’s dollars go versus where the Canadian dollars go. Once again, one may ask why America wastes so much money that other governments put to use in tending their citizens. America’s money seems to go in circles and spend more time in political wars as well as unnecessary middle men.
Another template to use would be the Swiss Healthcare System. Civitas (2002) has studied the Swiss system to promote the growth of a system “which create a better society”. The Swiss use a similar system to the Canadians, but the government is not the only one getting billed, therefore the payment process is delayed and costs are higher than they should be. This has created some animosity and has led to a decrease in the level of healthcare provided.
In short, there are options in place and there are options yet to be considered. Any entity that is provided for by individuals has a responsibility to return a minimal portion of consideration to those individuals. A cooperation between the groups and the individuals. There is no one person or group of people that are more worthy than the other to obtain I decent amount of healthcare.
References
Canadian Health Care. (2004) Home page. Retrieved September 27, 2007, from Canadian Health Care Website: http://canadian-healthcare.org/page2.html
Civitas: The institute for the Study of Civil Society (2002) The Swiss Healthcare System. Retrieved September 27,2007 from http://www.civitas.org.uk/pdf/Switzerland.pdf
Gee, E.P. (2001). Dueling Forces: I-Med vs. Fed-Med. Journal of Healthcare Management (vol 46 issue 1). Chicago: American College of Healthcare Executives.
Himmelstein,D.U. & Woolhandler, S. (2002) Paying for National Healthcare Insurance and Not Getting It. Retrieved September 27,2007 from http://www.pnhp.org/publications/payingnotgettingit.pdf
Indiana Social Services Administration. (2005).Demographic Trends Report State
Fiscal Year 2005. Retrieved September 9, 2007, from
http://www.in.gov/fssa/family/pdf/DFR%20DTR%202005.pdf
Lebien, L. (1996). The Canadian Healthcare System: The Future of American
Healthcare?. Hospital Topics (vol 43 issue 3). Washington District of Columbia: Heldref Publications.
Merrick,J. (2003). Spiritual Healings: Sick Kids and the Law, American Journal of Law and Medicine (vol 29). Boston: American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics.
Myers, D. (2005) Exploring Psychology. Holland, Michigan: Worth Publishers
Napoli, M.(1998) Cancer Treatment: What is the Role of Eastern Medicine? Health Facts
(vol) 23. New York: Center for Medical Consumers
Porter-O’Grady, T. (2006). Can American Health Coverage Catch Up? Nursing Management. Philadelphia:Springhouse Corporation
Rice, P. (2001) Human Development fourth edition. Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Roach, M. (1997). My quest for qi. Health (vol 11) Birmingham : Time Inc.
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February 24 2011 | Medical | No Comments »
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