| Americans pay more than one and a half trillion | | | | residents without cost. Other countries, such as |
| dollars for medical care each year and costs | | | | Germany, where there is a public/private delivery |
| related to all manner of health care, such as | | | | system model for health care, manage to serve |
| prescription drugs, continue to skyrocket. While | | | | their populations for even less while still having |
| some of reasons behind this booming bill are | | | | better longevity than Americans. This proves that |
| understandable, Americans caught in a cash | | | | the quality of health care does not rise |
| crunch might be surprised to find out some of the | | | | proportionally with the amount of money spent to |
| lesser-known causes of high health care costs. | | | | attain it. |
| The words health care might invoke images of | | | | While many Canadians supplement their universal |
| doctors, nurses and hospitals, but the reality is | | | | health care with added insurance to cover the |
| that the medical field is a business and a ruthless | | | | cost of medication and perks such as |
| one at that. Individual practitioners, researchers | | | | semi-private or private hospital rooms, health care |
| and participants may have wonderful intentions | | | | insurance is much more essential in the United |
| and a true desire to help people, but the structure | | | | States. Unfortunately, costs have been rising |
| of the American health care system ensures | | | | dramatically, making health care insurance out of |
| profit is the number one issue of importance. | | | | reach for many Americans. Currently, more than |
| Here are some facts that may help explain the | | | | forty million Americans do not receive any kind of |
| high costs of American health care: | | | | health care benefit. |
| Pharmaceutical research and development | | | | Developing a vision on health insurance, we saw |
| companies spend roughly $20 billion each year on | | | | the need of providing some enlightenment in |
| R&D, and about the same amount on advertising | | | | health insurance for others to learn more about |
| and self-promotional marketing activities. | | | | health insurance. |
| There is sure to be a grin on your face once you | | | | For employers, providing health care insurance for |
| get to read this article on health insurance. This is | | | | employees is also becoming more expensive, with |
| because you are sure to realize that all this | | | | increases dramatically outpacing inflation rates. |
| matter is so obvious, you wonder how come you | | | | Some years, the difference is four or six fold. |
| never got to know about it! | | | | Even if premiums were to remain static, offering |
| Additionally, drug companies have as many sales | | | | health care insurance to employees still costs |
| people as there are doctors in the United States. | | | | several thousand dollars per worker. For smaller |
| One of the responsibilities of this sales force is to | | | | companies, or for those who employ a large |
| convince doctors to attend pharmaceutical | | | | number of people, these costs can be prohibitive. |
| company-sponsored seminars where drugs are | | | | Measures to reduce health care costs are always |
| showcased. | | | | under consideration, though many are not popular |
| According to some economists, the purchase of | | | | choices. Suggestions that have been put forward |
| new technology is responsible for more than 50 | | | | by various sources have included: |
| percent of new health care spending over the last | | | | Increased drug awareness and education. Millions |
| three years. | | | | could be saved if health care insurance covered |
| Much of the money Americans pay for health | | | | only generic versions of drugs that have been |
| care finds its way into the rising profits on health | | | | proven just as effective as their more expensive |
| care-related products and services such as the | | | | brand name counterparts. |
| provision of medical insurance. Even higher costs | | | | Terminate expensive treatment options will only |
| have been forecasted for the future, especially | | | | add a short amount of time to a patient's life, |
| for prescription drugs. | | | | particularly if it will not be quality time (i.e. patient |
| For many Americans who are unable to afford | | | | is in a coma). |
| the health care they need, rising costs represent | | | | Promote preventative care such as smart lifestyle |
| an ever-increasing barrier to medical services and | | | | choices, proper nutrition and exercise. |
| products. The financial burden is also felt on the | | | | Examine to ways to control drug advertising to |
| larger national scale with about 15 percent of | | | | consumers. There is speculation that advertising |
| gross domestic product going toward health care | | | | has led to prescriptions of non-necessary drugs. |
| costs. That is equal to about one quarter of the | | | | Limit malpractice liability so doctors and medical |
| annual federal budget. | | | | professionals do not feel pressured to cover |
| Comparatively, Canada invests around 10 percent | | | | themselves by ordering unnecessary tests to |
| of its GDP on its public health care program. Unlike | | | | substantiate conditions they already know to be |
| the United States, Canada's health care program | | | | present. |
| is universally available to all citizens and permanent | | | | |