USA Health Care System

What is the quality of care?

Patients who have adequate insurance, and who live in an appropriate location, can receive the best healthcare in the world.

These patients have good access to tertiarycare hospitals with the most modern equipment for both diagnosis and treatment :•modern drug therapy • telemetry • and highly skilled professionals are readily available.

The US is a world center for the most sophisticated surgical services, and most procedures can be performed with minimal delay.

In one or two areas, such as breast and cervical cancer survival, the US is clearly the world leader.

Нow is the healthcare system

funded?

The traditional model had health insurance provided in one of three ways:

• As a benefit of employment, either directly or through a union, with continued benefits available to retirees.• Through government funded

programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare, for the eligible low-income persons, those over the age of 65, and people with disabilities.• Through private purchase of health

insurance (generally for self-employed individuals).

Medical products, research and development

As in most other countries, the manufacture and production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices is carried out by private companies.

The research and development of medical devices and pharmaceuticals is supported by both public and private sources of funding.

In 2003, research and development expenditures were approximately $95 billion with $40 billion coming from public sources and $55 billion coming from private sources.

These investments into medical research have made the United States the leader in medical innovation, measured either in terms of revenue or the number of new drugs and devices introduced.

Disadvantages

• Although you will never be refused admission to hospital or left on the street by an ambulance because you cannot produce a credit card, it is essential that you are insured for medical expenses.

• If you suffer a catastrophic illness or injury and are uninsured, you may be asked for a deposit of between $5,000 and $15,000.

• The daily costs of a bed will be high, and a private room will be around $1000 a day;

• hospitals sometimes pass debts on to debt collectors who may follow you back to your own country and demand payment on behalf of their client.

What are the current concerns among patients?

The cost of care is the greatest patient concern, particularly for the elderly.

Medicare (the program for patients over 65 and those on disability) has limitations and does not, in its basic form, cover prescription drugs.

Rising drug costs are a particular concern for most elderly people.