The Clinton Health Plan :: Research Term Papers Essays

The Clinton Health Plan The health vex situation in the United States is in dire convey of achange. The United States spends more m nonpareily on health care per individualthan any other nation in the world (14%of its GNP in 1991), and that sum of moneyis quickly rising. Virtually everyone, from doctors to politicians,recognize the unwieldy situation of health care in America, and realizethat something must be done. In order to enterprise to correct the failures of the current health caresituation, 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 presently organizedis - as Clinton helpfully points out - waste. Some common examples are Paperwork There are thousands of insurance companies in the US, andeach one has many forms for doctor s and patients to fill out. So much so,that doctors spend more time improving their handwriting than healingpeople. Greed and Profiteering Some drug companies make everywhere 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 Surgery and Tests Possibly 15 to 35% of certain types ofoperations and tests are unneeded. Malpractice Suits and Defensive medicate Doctors pay high premiums on malpractice insurance which causesthem to charge more. The reason that these premiums are so high is becausecurrently there are practically no limits to an amount that can be sued forpain and damages. Defensive medicine - 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 revise the health caresystem by eliminating waste, and making sure that every single American canbe covered 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 within the insurance industry. Last, that his plan can put a detonating device on insurance prices. The core of Clintons plan is to set up regional health alliances,