Health care costs in the United States are as high as they are for a variety of reasons. The United States has a population of almost 340 million people, and it is safe to believe that more than half are currently or were at one point associated with American healthcare. Quite frankly, it does take a lot of money to get the right amount of appliances to treat so many people. These costs of medical equipment and supplies equal up to around $38 million per hospital every year. The high cost of medical care is a result of hospitals having to pay these fees.

Lower-income individuals living in the United States have a more difficult time being able to receive the medical care and attention they need due to the high costs. Something as small as a scratch could become life-threatening if not treated by a medical professional. If somebody were to be taken to a hospital and given a bill they couldn't pay off right away, they could end up in debt until it gets paid off. 

There are countless stories people have shared about having to turn away from doctors and medical attention because of the costs, even if it is necessary to keep them alive. The cost of cancer treatment in America can be at most $150,000 in total per patient. Many people have also shared their stories from giving birth inside of a hospital and being charged almost $1 million. Both already include insurance, which can lower the expenses by quite a lot, but even insurance costs $450 per person every month. For most people living in the United States, these expenses can be difficult to pay for, especially on top of other bills the individual could already be paying.

 Currently, the United States government has a number of laws in place to help pay for healthcare. One of the most significant laws in place is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which expanded the accessibility of healthcare to more individuals in the United States. The ACA was established in March 2010 and is enforced in 33 out of 50 states. Even though the ACA has very positive aspects, it has faced criticism from many people. Some argue that the ACA caused healthcare costs to increase for individuals. It has also given others a more difficult time finding healthcare providers that are accessible to them. Many small businesses have faced these problems, as it has been difficult to access health insurance for their employees. The problems ACA gives are universal and vary depending on the circumstance.

In order to help make healthcare more accessible for people living in the United States, the government should expand Medicaid, which provides more support to those who can't afford healthcare. By doing this, more people would be able to go to hospitals for help and treatment without worrying as much about the costs. In addition to expanding Medicaid, hospitals can work on saving money to lower their expenses. They can do this by focusing more on preventative care for early intervention. This means focusing more on preventing certain diseases early on rather than using expensive treatments to remove them. Additionally, hospitals can implement inventory management that keeps track of the availability of certain medical supplies. By doing this, hospitals will avoid overstocking or running out of supplies, thus reducing waste and costs.

In all, the healthcare in the United States should be made lower for the help and health management of people in America. Individuals want to be able to get the help they need without the worry of what it will cost. Every day, people have to turn away from treatment that could save their lives simply because the costs are too high. As a result of this petition, there should be more attention towards this problem, and what should be done to help keep people safe. The next step I will take as a result of my petition is to write a letter to Congress explaining the situation. I will include my petition, to show them that people are being negatively affected by this issue, and action should be taken to ensure people feel safe and comfortable.

 

Sources used to gather information:

Photo taken by  Ryan Rodrick Beiler, Uploaded on:

Pearlman, Alex. “The Future of Health Care? How States Are Trailblazing Medicaid Buy-in Programs - Bill of Health.” Bill of Health - The Blog of the Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School, 5 Aug. 2019, blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2019/03/11/the-future-of-health-care-how-states-are-trailblazing-medicaid-buy-in-programs/.
 

“Why Are Americans Paying More for Healthcare?” Peter G. Peterson Foundation, www.pgpf.org/blog/2023/07/why-are-americans-paying-more-for-healthcare Accessed 17 Dec. 2023.

“Understanding Why Health Care Costs in the U.S. Are so High.” News, 6 May 2020, www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/understanding-why-health-care-costs-in-the-u-s-are-so-high/

“High Cost of Cancer Treatment: Chemotherapy & Other Options.” Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families, 27 June 2023, www.asbestos.com/featured-stories/high-cost-of-cancer-treatment/#:~:text=At%20an%20average%20total%20of,for%20other%20common%20health%20conditions

Porretta, Anna. “How Much Does Health Insurance Cost? | Ehealth.” Ehealth, www.ehealthinsurance.com/resources/individual-and-family/how-much-does-individual-health-insurance-cost Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.

“Affordable Care Act (ACA) - Glossary.” Glossary | HealthCare.Gov, www.healthcare.gov/glossary/affordable-care-act/ Accessed 17 Dec. 2023.

Daley, James. “We Can Reduce US Health Care Costs - the American Journal of Medicine.” The American Journal of Medicine , www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343%2809%2901115-2/fulltext Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.