West Virginia Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program
A Broken System
Welcome to "A Broken System," a collection of examples vividly illustrating the glaring shortcomings of the American health care system. These are real issues that real people are grappling with every day. They highlight the urgency and necessity of implementing a national health program, a solution for which PNHP.org passionately advocates.
Go to the Kaiser Family Foundation's Bill of the Month site where you'll find individual stories of what Americans are encountering when dealing with our health system.
The US healthcare system is expensive, complicated, dysfunctional, or broken. Below are just some ways in which the system is harming Americans. And these are just the tip of the iceberg. Remember, an entire industry has evolved in the US just to help people navigate the maddeningly complex task of choosing a health insurance plan.
The cost is enormous
-
High cost, not highest quality. Despite spending far more on healthcare than other high-income nations, the US scores poorly on many key health measures, including life expectancy, preventable hospital admissions, suicide, and maternal mortality.
-
Insurance Gaps. Many people lack adequate insurance coverage, which can result in insufficient access to necessary treatments and medications.
-
Financial burden. High costs combined with high numbers of underinsured or uninsured means many people risk bankruptcy if they develop a serious illness. Patients avoid necessary care due to high out-of-pocket expenses, leading to worsening health conditions.
-
Lack of Transparency. Patients may find it difficult to understand the costs of procedures or the quality of care they will receive, leading to poor decision-making.
Access is uneven
-
Health insurance tied to employment. A layoff can jeopardize your access to healthcare.
-
Healthcare disparities. The system delays or denies high-quality care to those who need it most but can least afford its high cost. Rural and underserved areas may lack healthcare facilities, forcing patients to travel long distances for care.
-
Health insurers may discourage care to hold down costs. Many health insurance companies restrict expensive medications, tests, and other services by declining coverage. That also discourages care deemed appropriate by your physician.
-
Lack of Insurance Coverage
Millions of Americans remain uninsured or underinsured. This results in reduced access to preventive care and necessary treatments, leading to worse health outcomes.
Misdirected care
-
Overemphasizing procedures and drugs. Our system focuses on disease, specialty care, and technology rather than preventive care.
-
Fragmented care. Poor coordination between different healthcare providers can lead to medication errors, duplicated tests, conflicting treatments, higher costs. medication errors, and gaps in care, especially for patients with chronic conditions
-
Defensive medicine. Medical care offered primarily to minimize the chance of getting sued drives up costs, provides little or no benefit, and may even reduce the quality of care.r
-
Overtreatment and Undertreatment. Some patients receive unnecessary procedures, while others may not receive essential care due to varying provider practices and biases.