Q Module Four assignment 09162023
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School
Purdue University *
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Course
N678
Subject
Health Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
2
Uploaded by chang541
Running head: NATURE OF MEDICAL CARE
1
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Medical care can be both a luxury good and a necessity, depending on the context. Whether
it is a luxury, or a necessity has significant implications for policymakers. The categorization of
medical care hinges on diverse factors, including individual income levels and societal priorities.
From the point of luxury goods, medical care encompasses elective or high-cost procedures that
individuals with higher incomes may seek to enhance their quality of life. The necessity
perspective emphasizes the vital role of basic healthcare and preventive measures for health. This
distinction influences how policymakers allocate resources, shape healthcare policies, and design
healthcare systems. Policymakers must balance ensuring universal access to essential healthcare
with managing the demand for advanced or elective medical care to avoid resource strain
(Galvani et al., 2020). Empirical evidence shows that whether medical care is viewed as a luxury
or necessity varies based on specific factors and economic conditions (Getzen, 2000). In
developed countries with established healthcare systems, basic healthcare services are typically
seen as essential due to their positive impact on public health. However, costly medical
procedures may be considered more of a luxury, favored by higher-income individuals.
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Turning to the influence of medical insurance on individual healthcare-seeking behavior, a
profound dynamic comes into play. Medical insurance fundamentally augments an individual
demand for medical care. With insurance coverage in place, individuals are more likely to seek
medical services due to reduced financial barriers. Comprehensive insurance typically
encompasses doctor visits, hospitalization, prescribed medications, and preventive care,
rendering these services more accessible. Insurance fuels demand for medical care through the
removal of financial barriers and the fulfillment of preventive care. Reduced out-of-pocket costs
make healthcare services more affordable and accessible, while coverage for preventive services
motivates individuals to undergo regular screenings and vaccinations to safeguard their
health(Galvani et al., 2020). The impact of insurance on overall medical spending remains
contingent on several variables. Without effective cost control measures, insurance can
contribute to escalating healthcare costs. Health systems and insurers may negotiate prices with
healthcare providers, but unchecked, this arrangement can result in heightened healthcare
expenditures.
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The medicalization of social problems like alcoholism, drug abuse, anorexia, obesity, and
domestic violence carries both benefits and challenges. Characterizing these issues as diseases
endeavors to mitigate stigma and encourages individuals to seek assistance. It can also prompt
increased funding for healthcare programs. However, this approach risks overmedicalization,
potentially pathologizing normal behaviors or multifaceted issues with complex social,
psychological, and environmental underpinnings (Yang et al., 2017). Treating these social
problems as diseases may trigger a shift in societal responsibility towards healthcare systems,
fostering policy changes. This shift must be carefully managed to avert overburdening healthcare
resources. Many of these issues extend beyond the purview of traditional medical care and
necessitate holistic, multi-sectoral approaches.
In conclusion, classifying medical care as luxury or necessity shapes healthcare policies
and resource allocation. Insurance boosts demand but requires cost control. The medicalization
of social issues balances stigma reduction with recognizing non-medical factors. Policymakers
must navigate these complexities to ensure an equitable healthcare system meeting both medical
and societal needs.
Running head: NATURE OF MEDICAL CARE
2
References
Galvani, A. P., Parpia,
A. S., Foster,
E. M., Singer,
B. H., & Fitzpatrick, M. C.(2020).
Improving the prognosis of health care in the USA.
Lancet, 395
(10223), 524-533. DOI:
10.1016/S0140-6736(19)33019-3.
Getzen, T. E. (2000). Health care is an individual necessity and a national luxury: Applying
multilevel decision models to the analysis of health care expenditures. Journal of Health
Economics, 19(2), 259-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6296(99)00032-6.
Yang, L. H., Wong,
L.Y., Grivel, M.M., & Hasin,
D. S. (2017). Stigma and substance use
disorders: an international phenomenon.
Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 30
(5), 378-388.
DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000351.
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