Are Healthcare Options Really Better in The US?

From the outside, it looks like healthcare in the United States of America is light years ahead of the rest of the world. In truth, while the US has made impressive strides in healthcare, rivaling healthcare facilities worldwide, there's always room for improvement.

The cost of healthcare resources is one of the main sources of debate in modern America. Experts are constantly trying to develop and introduce innovations that could give the healthcare system a new look.

The June Medical retractor, for example, is a cutting-edge tool that has made surgeries so much easier in the US.

How Much Does the US Spend on Healthcare?

When setting out yearly budgets, all countries set aside a specific amount to maintain their healthcare system. It follows the logic that the wealthier a country is, the more resources it has to spend on healthcare. However, there's a point where that amount becomes a source of concern, especially when citizens are barely benefiting from the healthcare sector.

With a current cost of over $12,700 per person, the US spends more on healthcare than almost any other wealthy country in the world.  You'd expect that this means American citizens enjoy unparalleled healthcare service. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. American citizens have been known to lament bitterly about how poor the American healthcare service is.

The main factors that have led to an increase in healthcare costs in the US are the amount of services used as well as how much it costs to access such services. Still, even when utilization rates are quite low, the US still spends an inexplicably high amount of money on healthcare. This may be due to the monopoly among hospital services in the United States.

Do All US Citizens Have Equal Access to Healthcare?

Outside of cost, access is another major problem plaguing healthcare conversations in the US. The outrageous cost of healthcare already does a big job of alienating people who may desperately need access to effective medical resources.

For many people, having an adequate health insurance policy is tied to the kind of job they have. This implies that not being able to access a high-paying job greatly limits your healthcare access. Plus, many healthcare insurers place restrictions on the kinds of health resources you can access, especially when it comes to expensive medications and treatment.

There's also the issue of the unstable economy. You never know when a person may be affected by an unforeseen layoff. Losing your job means that you may no longer be able to access proper healthcare anymore.

Closing Thoughts

Although the US has made impressive strides in terms of the kind of equipment and treatments used, there is still so much work to be done to ensure that all citizens have the best healthcare possible.

There needs to be reforms and better strategies to increase healthcare access and make it more affordable. This is the only way that the US will be able to offer equal or better healthcare options than the rest of the world.