A Broken System
The American Health System is expensive, complicated, dysfunctional, or broken.
"The first step is to give up the illusion that the primary purpose of modern health care is to improve American health effectively and efficiently. In our opinion, the primary purpose of commercially-funded health care is to maximize financial return on investment, not health."
Drs. John Abramson and Barbara Starfield, Overdosed America: The Broken Promise of American Medicine" by Dr. John Abramson
Visit the Kaiser Family Foundation's Bill of the Month archives to read or listen to real stories of harm that Americans' experience with our health system.
High Cost
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Costs are unsustainable for Americans and the Government.
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High healthcare spending yields poor US health metrics.
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Many lack adequate insurance, limiting treatment access.
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High costs and underinsurance can lead to bankruptcy, care avoidance.
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Lack of transparency hinders understanding of costs and quality.
Uneven Access
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Job-related health insurance risks access during layoffs.
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Healthcare disparities delay or deny care, especially in rural areas.
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Insurers limit access to reduce costs, denying essential medications and services. -
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Millions of Americans are uninsured or under insured, leading to worse health outcomes.
Uneven Access
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Misdirected care emphasizes procedures over prevention.
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Fragmented coordination among providers leads to medication errors and higher costs, especially for chronic patients.
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Defensive medicine increases costs without enhancing quality.
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Overtreatment and undertreatment occur due to differing provider practices.