Growing up in a family that immigrated from Egypt, my parents always emphasized the importance of health and striving for a better life. My family did not have health insurance and we only scheduled doctor’s appointments when it was necessary. Consequentially, we did not have the luxury of being able to visit the doctor multiple times a year for checkups, due to lack of health insurance. My parents often went overseas for their checkups and treatments, as they could not afford treatment in the United States. Unfortunately, this situation is not limited only to my family. Many families that I know are in similar situations and often delayed surgeries until they found a cheaper alternative. It is heartbreaking to witness loved ones potentially risking their state of well-being for not having sufficient funds or healthcare. The courses I took throughout college fueled my passion in studying medicine, learning the different approaches and perspectives these classes offered. The introductory Biology courses provided a solid foundation that would …show more content…
I had firsthand experience of this through volunteering with Shepherd’s Hope Clinic. In Shepherd’s Hope, doctors from various specialties would volunteer a few hours in the evening every month to treat uninsured patients. I quickly discovered that despite government assisted programs, such as the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, numerous people remained uninsured. Most of these patients did not meet the minimum income requirements for these programs or lost their insurance due to unemployment. This program has a wonderful mission, but sadly, many people are turned away because of time constraints. Each clinic operates for five hours a day, three days per week. I always told myself that when I fulfill my dreams and goals of becoming a doctor, I would gladly help those in need through similar
An estimate of 1 in every six Texans live under the poverty level; for children, it is approximately one in five. These statistics indicate that there is a huge problem with the uninsured, the numbers are just too high. If the health assistance was extended the health of these uninsured would improve by 7 to 8
It can be quite prevailing for individuals to have financial problems towards health coverage. Based on the Health Affairs reference, “In the last decade, health insurance premiums costs have increased by 80%... whereas 58% of Americans report they are not able to seek medical attention due to high costs” (Gary Claxton, Matthew Rae, and Nirmita Panchal, et al). Statistics also present many factors exhibiting millions of individuals facing the risk of losing their insurance. Above all, health insurance is a basic health necessity. Medical services being available to everyone will benefit the public health not only with quality, but along with quantity.
According to the U.S. census, in 2013, 42 million Americans or 13.4% of the population were uninsured. The Keiser Family Foundation analysis of 2014 Survey of Low-Income Americans and the ACA, states that in 2014, 27 % of the uninsured went without having necessary care for major health conditions or chronic diseases. Health care is a fundamental right regardless of status or health. The United States should look to other countries and examine their successes in providing universal healthcare.
In what was probably the most eye-opening volunteer positions I served, I found that for the first time, there were many instances in which I could not help people. During appointments, there were times when I had to relay the information that a consumer could not get health coverage, whether it was because they fell in the coverage gap that prevented them from receiving subsidies, the coverage offered by their employer was considered “affordable” by the statutes but not by their personal budgets, or some other unfortunate, yet all too common, circumstance. Despite this, it was one of my most valuable learning experiences. During training, I had the opportunity to learn who was eligible for subsidies and how they are established, the guidelines of the SHOP Marketplace, what essential health benefits are, and a number of other things about health insurance. The desire to build upon the knowledge gained in this position drives me daily to continue learning about health policy and management to acquire the tools that needed to assess and correct this “system” that has still left 29 million people uninsured, and even more
Health Care in the US is arguably available to all who seek it but not everybody has had the same experience and treatment when walking through the doors of a healthcare facility. In many cases, people are discriminated against due to their gender, race/ethnicity, age, and income and are often provided with minimal service. Differences between groups in health coverage, access to care, and quality of care is majorly affected through these disparities. Income is a major factor and can cause groups of people to experience higher burden of illness, injury, disability, or mortality relative to another group.
Tax and health are two major components involved in our daily life. Public needs to be educated with general knowledge and informed with available service of both. Currently, I am a volunteer at Sparrow Hospital (Lansing, MI). In addition, I want to serve local public in a different way(tax) and I am capable to do it, such as , become a member of Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. I have been a medical researcher and teacher for over 20-year.
46.8 million Americans were reported as uninsured in 2013, which equivocates to one sixth of the population. Those without insurance have revealed that they risk “more problems getting care, are diagnosed at later disease stages, and get less therapeutic care” (National Health Care Disparities Report) and those insured risk losing their insurance. Inadequately covered citizens are often working-class individuals who simply cannot receive insurance due to uncontrollable inconveniences and therefore jeopardize having medical coverage. In these instances, Americans have a chance of being diagnosed with diseases that they had no opportunity to prevent or could not diagnose them at an early stage of the illness. Patients have suffered unnecessarily due to lack of health care, and “18,000 Americans die every year because they don't have health insurance” (PNHP).
I grew up in Mombasa, Kenya in a less fortunate state, I saw my parents struggling to raise us. Health care was something they could not afford, whenever we felt sick we were treated with traditional medicine of which is only
Introduction People hope and seeks long and healthier lives. Thus, health care is the act of taking preventative or necessary medical procedures to improve people well-being. Improvement or preventative may be done with surgery, the administering of medicine, or other alterations in a person 's lifestyle. These services are usually offered through a health care system made up of hospitals and physicians. Although, the health care system is set up to reduce or to prevent disease etc., there is a gap or disparity in the US health care system.
Healthcare is something everyone needs and should be able to get, but right now that is not happening. In America there are millions of people who don’t have healthcare insurance. This is because some can’t afford the insurance plan. There are also millions more who have health insurance, but can’t afford using it. This means that they are paying for an insurance plan, but the deductibles are so high they can’t afford to go to the doctor.
For both the uninsured group and those who are eligible for government assistance because of their low economic position, access to health is limited by the number of private providers willing to treat them. In many cases private providers are linked to particular private health insurance companies and won 't accept patients outside their network. These people must then rely on the overburdened public health system for care, and as such usually only seek treatment in emergencies. The public health system, while filled with competent staff, is nevertheless restricted by its funding and can therefore not always provide all these patients with the best quality of care. The inequality in health care access is a continuing issue in America and as such it is important for future consumers and workers on the Foothill College campus to have a thorough understanding of the issue so they can move to improve the problem in the
The United States government is already very involved with insurance with Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is already the second largest provider for insurance, covering 43.5 million in 2013. If Medicare and Medicaid was not available it would leave millions insured. If these millions had no insurance it would likely lead countless health problems in United States. These programs are specifically targeted to individuals who have no access to insurance or can not afford insurances.
It may surprise you that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Bank, at least 400 million people lack access to essential health services. They said, at least 6 percent of people in 37 low and middle income countries are living in poverty because they must spend the money for health. Health care services is the most importance thing that we need because it is not only for improve the health but also through individual behaviour and lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, eating the nutritious food and living a healthy lifestyles.
Health care is an important resource for Americans to have. It provides numerous benefits that we need; however, there are some issues that come along with it. Today, three major issues with healthcare are affordability, portability, and quality of results. To begin, a large portion of Americans struggle financially which makes affording healthcare quite difficult. A vast majority of the people who do not have health care are people who work but still do not make enough to afford it.
Getting Life Insurance? Know How To Protect A Child’s Best Interests Many people don’t consider a life insurance policy a priority, with 43% of people not having any type of life insurance coverage. While most of us plan to live a long time, the unexpected can always happen. Being prepared is very important when you have kids, and life insurance can help ensure that your kids are supported financially in a situation where you pass away too soon.