Better Healthcare model?

[Freesia88]

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NB: This post relates to healthcare out of the US so if this is not your cup of tea please feel free to disregard.

Following the Supreme Court's decision regarding the ACA and the wave of opinions regarding the validity of the program, I have been thinking about healthcare models that would actually benefit the patients and the medical professionals and society as a whole. It also led me to think about what approach I would support if I ever had to play a role in shaping healthcare policy in my home country.

Where I come from, currently, the health care system is quite straightforward, if you can afford care you get it and if you can't then you don't. The options are limited to cheaper government run hospitals which tend to be very inefficient, and more expensive clinics and hospitals run by private individuals and religious organisations. There are also herbalists and traditional healers that people turn to. There are no insurance companies, nothing like Medicare or Medicaid or any other health care programs.

Obviously this is less than ideal as for the most part, people cannot afford even the government run hospitals and I do not think I neeed to elaborate much on the consequences of that.

So here is the question: If you were given such a system, what policies would you implement which ensured that the patients were taken care of as best as possible, especially those who really cannot afford health care, and also ensures that the medical professionals are adequately compensated for their trouble?

 

[alerk323]

NB: This post relates to healthcare out of the US so if this is not your cup of tea please feel free to disregard.

Following the Supreme Court's decision regarding the ACA and the wave of opinions regarding the validity of the program, I have been thinking about healthcare models that would actually benefit the patients and the medical professionals and society as a whole. It also led me to think about what approach I would support if I ever had to play a role in shaping healthcare policy in my home country.

Where I come from, currently, the health care system is quite straightforward, if you can afford care you get it and if you can't then you don't. The options are limited to cheaper government run hospitals which tend to be very inefficient, and more expensive clinics and hospitals run by private individuals and religious organisations. There are also herbalists and traditional healers that people turn to. There are no insurance companies, nothing like Medicare or Medicaid or any other health care programs.

Obviously this is less than ideal as for the most part, people cannot afford even the government run hospitals and I do not think I neeed to elaborate much on the consequences of that.

So here is the question: If you were given such a system, what policies would you implement which ensured that the patients were taken care of as best as possible, especially those who really cannot afford health care, and also ensures that the medical professionals are adequately compensated for their trouble?

The opportunity to get insurance, whether it be through private insurance companies or government bodies, is vital in order to make healthcare affordable to more people. Insurance is really the answer to both your questions. It would make healthcare more affordable to patients while still compensating the system appropriately.

 

[Freesia88]

But aren't people all upset over the ACA because it demands the acquisition of insurance and levies a tax if insurance is not acquired...perhaps I have it backwards?

Also I am thinking of a healthcare model in a society where peoples assets are usually more in the land and the crops and livestock they own and less in cash in the bank. For example you could have a farmer with farmland and livestock but no bank account, or monthly paycheck. he lives off his land for the most part and whatever he can sell is susually to purchase those commodities that he cannot grow. He and his family however can and do fall sick. If they go to a traditional healer they can pay in bags on corn or in livestock.

If we want to move him away from those potentially harmful methods to modern medicine then how can we set it up so he can afford it?

 

[alerk323]

But aren't people all upset over the ACA because it demands the acquisition of insurance and levies a tax if insurance is not acquired...perhaps I have it backwards?

Also I am thinking of a healthcare model in a society where peoples assets are usually more in the land and the crops and livestock they own and less in cash in the bank. For example you could have a farmer with farmland and livestock but no bank account, or monthly paycheck. he lives off his land for the most part and whatever he can sell is susually to purchase those commodities that he cannot grow. He and his family however can and do fall sick. If they go to a traditional healer they can pay in bags on corn or in livestock.

If we want to move him away from those potentially harmful methods to modern medicine then how can we set it up so he can afford it?

From what I understand, people are upset over the ACA because they don't like the idea of "being forced" to do anything. Land of the free and all that jibberjabber. In general, though, insurance makes things affordable that otherwise wouldn't be and from the governments perspective, it's costly to have large numbers of people who are uninsured.

For your specific example, I guess it's more difficult. What country are you talking about? How does the government get their revenue? Are they farmers etc paying taxes in some way?

 

[Freesia88]

From what I understand, people are upset over the ACA because they don't like the idea of "being forced" to do anything. Land of the free and all that jibberjabber. In general, though, insurance makes things affordable that otherwise wouldn't be and from the governments perspective, it's costly to have large numbers of people who are uninsured.

For your specific example, I guess it's more difficult. What country are you talking about? How does the government get their revenue? Are they farmers etc paying taxes in some way?

I wonder then if the idea of paying higher insurance premiums to cover the cost for uninsured people would sit well with those who don't want to be forced to buy insurance or pay a tax (scratches head...)

I am speaking about Cameroon, a West African country of little or no importance to the US 🙂

I would say the government taxes those on its radar and also gets revenue from exporting the countries massive resources one of which is petroleum. Commercial farmers I imagine pay some kind of tax but a farmer with enough land and resources to be on the governments radar probably has no trouble paying for healthcare I think.

I am more concerned about the subsistence farmers...the hand to mouth farmers in deeply rural areas who make up a good chunk of the countries populations and who along with their families are the most at risk for dying from untreated disease.

I understand that things here in the US are messed up enough without having to think about other countries messes, but I have stakes in both worlds and it would be deeply hypocritical of me to join the workforce and look for solutions to the healthcare crisis here in the US and not think about how policies could be applied back home where we could develop a system that avoids the mistakes made here.

 

[alerk323]

I wonder then if the idea of paying higher insurance premiums to cover the cost for uninsured people would sit well with those who don't want to be forced to buy insurance or pay a tax (scratches head...)

I am speaking about Cameroon, a West African country of little or no importance to the US 🙂

I would say the government taxes those on its radar and also gets revenue from exporting the countries massive resources one of which is petroleum. Commercial farmers I imagine pay some kind of tax but a farmer with enough land and resources to be on the governments radar probably has no trouble paying for healthcare I think.

I am more concerned about the subsistence farmers...the hand to mouth farmers in deeply rural areas who make up a good chunk of the countries populations and who along with their families are the most at risk for dying from untreated disease.

I understand that things here in the US are messed up enough without having to think about other countries messes, but I have stakes in both worlds and it would be deeply hypocritical of me to join the workforce and look for solutions to the healthcare crisis here in the US and not think about how policies could be applied back home where we could develop a system that avoids the mistakes made here.

If you have a rare cancer or some other type of rare disease, America is the place to be. We have some of the most advanced abilities to treat patients. However, the general health of our population is more a factor of simpler factors. Clean water, good diet, clean living conditions and access to vaccines and other common medication. In countries like the one you're talking about those are the types of things that would really make a difference.

 

[Freesia88]

If you have a rare cancer or some other type of rare disease, America is the place to be. We have some of the most advanced abilities to treat patients. However, the general health of our population is more a factor of simpler factors. Clean water, good diet, clean living conditions and access to vaccines and other common medication. In countries like the one you're talking about those are the types of things that would really make a difference.

Good point! ....Up untill the part about access to vaccines and other common medication. Its not like people should be able to self diagnose and stroll into a pharmacy and buy whatever the heck they think will treat the supposed disease right?

It definitely requires a multipronged approach and sanitation plays a vital role (more so than food or water because we have those...a lot.) Lets say hypothetically that sanitation was brought under some degree of control and it was a question of making it posssible for people to be able to see health profesionals if there was a need.... that is where my question lies.

And not to be a jerk but the general health of the American population is highly questionable at this point wouldn't you say? Not to the level of Cameroon per se, but for such an advanced country...

 

[alerk323]

Good point! ....Up untill the part about access to vaccines and other common medication. Its not like people should be able to self diagnose and stroll into a pharmacy and buy whatever the heck they think will treat the supposed disease right?

It definitely requires a multipronged approach and sanitation plays a vital role (more so than food or water because we have those...a lot.) Lets say hypothetically that sanitation was brought under some degree of control and it was a question of making it posssible for people to be able to see health profesionals if there was a need.... that is where my question lies.

At that point I think its a big question of who pays for it. Again, I'm really not that well versed in the details but I think the main possible sources would be 1) government, 2) private organizations, whether they be insurance, private hospitals or philanthropic groups, or 3) a combination of the two (which is how a lot of the US system is run). Just thinking it through, it seems like for a country like Camaroon, that has a lot of impoverished people, I think the gov would have to make some big pushes with the money it makes from exporting its resources to fund their healthcare system.

And not to be a jerk but the general health of the American population is highly questionable at this point wouldn't you say? Not to the level of Cameroon per se, but for such an advanced country..

Right, I'm not sure exactly where America stands but I was comparing it more with third world countries where people really struggle.

 

[Freesia88]

Just thinking it through, it seems like for a country like Cameroon, that has a lot of impoverished people, I think the gov would have to make some big pushes with the money it makes from exporting its resources to fund their healthcare system.

We should be so lucky 🙁

They tend to be more interested in padding their Swiss bank accounts than fixing the countries problems. Ultimately I think it will come down to grassroots organizations working in collaboration with qualified medical professionals to come up with a solution that can cater to the needy. If some workable solution could just be found....



The statement about the state of the US was just me being snide. 😉


Thank you for your input.