HEALTH POLICY ANALYSIS

Health Policy Analysis

Health Policy Analysis

Problem statement

United States has the most expensive health care system in the world. The U.S. spends on health system more than any other country.

Background

United States has the most expensive health care system in the world. The U.S. spends on health system more than any other country, both in absolute terms and relative to gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Thus, in 2007 the U.S. spent on health care 2.26 trillion dollars, which amounts to 7,439 dollars per person. According to recent estimates in the U.S. for medical care consumes about 16% of GDP. It is expected that the share of GDP devoted to health in the U.S., will increase and by 2017 it will amount to 19. 5%. However, over the past 30 years, increase spending on this sector is mainly due to government programs that could seriously undermine the financial stability of the country. (Sullivan, 2009)

According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, United States, the world's only developed industrial country without universal health care system. In the U.S, about 84% of citizens have health insurance, 64% of the insurance provided by the employer, and 9% has purchased it for themselves, 27% of citizens of the insurance provided through government programs. Some state programs can get medical assistance for the disabled, the elderly; children, veterans and low income people, as well as provide emergency care to all residents regardless of their ability to pay. (Singh, 2005).Over 45% of the costs of the country health system are to finance these public programs so that the U.S. government is the largest insurer of the nation. In 2006, the U.S. health insurance did not have 16% of the population, and that 47 million people, this is due to the high cost of insurance, which is growing faster than wages or inflation. In 2001, due to medical costs in the U.S. 50% of the companies were bankrupt. Around the American health care system is constantly unfolding debate; there are disputes about its availability, efficacy and quality, as well as the enormous sums being spent on its maintenance. (Shi, 2005)

In 2000, WHO, analyzing health systems of 191 countries of the world, gave the U.S. first place in the ranking of the most stable systems capable of rapid response to changeable conditions. In this case, the U.S. has taken a place among the most expensive health care systems and only 37 ranked in terms of medical care and 72th in the overall level of health. However, the study by WHO has been criticized for its methodology and lack of analysis of satisfaction with the health care system by consumers. (Ramsay,2005)

According to the CIA World Fact book, on U.S. infant mortality is at 41th place in the world, on life expectancy by 45m. Recent studies have shown that in the period 1997-2003. Reduction in mortality, which could be prevented in the U.S., is much slower than in 18 other industrialized ...