Week 5 DB - Sep. 27 @ 8_25 pm.docx
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George Washington University *
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MISC
Subject
Health Science
Date
Jan 9, 2024
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doc
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3
Uploaded by HighnessChinchilla1516
1
Week 5 DB
The healthcare system in the United States can be described as a 'hybrid' with national healthcare insurance and other multiplayer private insurance systems. However, the system has undergone many changes, especially in the 20th century compared with the current system.
There is an intriguing debate in the US about private insurance's more significant versus minor role in financing healthcare. Some Americans argue that privatized insurance should be more prominent, while others believe healthcare insurance should be public. Those who argue for a more significant role describe private insurance's ability to offer patients more options and flexibility. In contrast, those who argue for a more minor role often point to private insurance's high costs and limitations(Kelly, 2023). Overall, the decision to privatize healthcare is complex and multifaceted, requiring careful consideration of political and economic factors. Economically, there are concerns about the cost of privatization and its potential to increase overall healthcare spending. While there are arguments in favor of privatization, there are also valid concerns that must be addressed to ensure all Americans have equal access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. While private insurance has been a significant player in healthcare financing for many years, some valid arguments exist for increasing and decreasing its role. On the one hand, private insurance can provide individuals with more choice and flexibility in their healthcare coverage and promote competition and innovation among healthcare providers(Kelly, 2023).
Conversely, private insurance can also lead to higher costs and administrative burdens and limit access to care for those who cannot afford coverage. Private insurance companies have a profit motive that could lead to higher prices for consumers, and there is evidence that administrative costs are higher in private insurance systems than public systems(Glied &
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Altman, 2017). Moreover, privatization could lead to a loss of bargaining power for the government in negotiations with healthcare providers, which could further increase costs. Ultimately, the decision on the role of private insurance in healthcare financing should be based on carefully considering all these factors and a commitment to ensuring that all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare(Rosenbaum & Wilensky, 2020).
Private insurance could be used to supplement public insurance programs. For example, private insurance could be used to cover deductibles, copays, and other out-of-pocket costs for people enrolled in public insurance programs.
Private insurance could be used to offer coverage for specialized services that are not covered by public insurance programs. For example, private insurance could cover dental, vision, and long-term care coverage.
Private insurance could be used to offer premium coverage to people who are willing to pay more for additional benefits or services. For example, private insurance could cover prescription drugs, chiropractic care, and massage therapy.
References
Glied, S. A., & Altman, S. H. (2017). Beyond antitrust: Health care and health insurance market trends and the future of competition. Health Affairs
, 36
(9), 1572–1577. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0555
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Kelly, A. S. (2023). Private power in public programs: Medicare, medicaid, and the structural power of private insurance. Studies in American Political Development
, 37
(1), 24–40. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0898588x22000207
Rosenbaum, S., & Wilensky, G. (2020). Closing the medicaid coverage gap: Options for reform. Health Affairs
, 39
(3), 514–518. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01463
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