The Clinton Health Plan :: Research Term Papers Essays

The Clinton Health program The wellness fearfulness situation in the United States is in stately need of achange. The United States spends more m stary on health tending per individualthan any other nation in the being (14%of its GNP in 1991), and that amountis quickly rising. Virtually every(prenominal)one, from doctors to politicians,recognize the unmanageable situation of health cargon in America, and realizethat something must be done. In order to attempt to correct the failures of the current health c besituation, one must understand the problems that led to the deteriorationof the health care system. Perhaps the main problem with health care todayis that there are 37 million Americans without insurance, and another 20million are underinsured Another large problem with the way health care is concisely organizedis - as Clinton helpfully points out - waste. Some common examples are Paperwork There are thousands of insurance companies in the US, andeach one has umteen forms for doctors and patients to fill out. So much so,that doctors spend more time better their handwriting than healingpeople. Greed and Profiteering Some drug companies make over 10,000% profit onthe drugs they manufacture. In 1991, the median income of doctors was$139,000 for general practitioners and $512,000 for specialists. Unneeded operation and Tests Possibly 15 to 35% of certain types ofoperations and tests are unneeded. Malpractice Suits and defensiveMedicine Doctors pay high premiums on malpractice insurance which causesthem to charge more. The actor that these premiums are so high is becausecurrently there are lots no limits to an amount that can be sued forpain and damages. Defensive care for - procedures done to protect doctorsfrom being sued - is costing this country greatly. Recognizing that waste is one of the greatest causes of the high pricesin health care, Clinton has introduced a plan to decree the health caresystem by eliminatin g waste, and making sure that every single American canbe sweeped by a health plan. Clintons plan is based on three premises. First, that there is enoughwaste in the current health care system to cover the costs of his new plan.Second, that his plan will create competition at heart the insurance industry. Last, that his plan can put a cap on insurance prices. The core of Clintons plan is to set up regional health alliances,