Analysis of John Stossel video: Free Market Medicine
Analysis of John Stossel video: Free Market Medicine
Abstract
John Stossel argues that free market medical care is the solution to America’s healthcare. He is opposed to the government intervention in the provision of medical care which to the citizen seems free but in the long run not sustainable. The paper also evaluates the changes that have been done and those that could be improved to solve some of the healthcare problems. The affordable care act has some insurance companies especially those that specialized in child-only insurance leave the business due to the mandatory requirement to provide cover to every child regardless of the pre-existing conditions. The affordable health care act has proposed the extension of the eligibility age of young adults to remain under the parents’ insurance cover. A big challenge that the government is yet to address however is how it will balance the increased demand for healthcare services and the seemingly unchanged supply of the same services.
Question 1
I learned from free markets by John Stossel that capitalism and free market principle have the more promising potential to deliver the healthcare system than any government program that I was not aware of before. In his opinion he against the federal care plan that the government is introducing (Stossel, 2013). Therefore, to him capitalism should also extend to the medicine sector, that there will be prosperity and more opportunities.
I also learned that America spends more money on healthcare than any other country that I was not aware of before. Yet the services they get are less proportionate compared to the expenditure. Stossel believes that he less the government is involved in the healthcare provision the better it would be, and he urges the media to stop advocating for more government involvement (Stossel, 2013). He insists that people can get better health care where they pay their own routine medical care cost and reserve the insurance for emergency cases. People should see beyond the idea of free medical care because it is not sustainable in the long run.
I have learned that insurance a federal insurance system denies one the opportunity to make a choice as from whom to obtain medical care from that I did not know before. This is because the limited care providers are dictated by the policy. He believes that if free market system was allowed in America, doctors would be competing to provide good healthcare service to the patients and as a result quality would be maintained and prices lowered (Stossel, 2013).
I learned that as the government gives the employer mandate to insure its employees it leaves them with limited options for medical care that I was not aware of before. This is because the employer chooses the insurance company to provide the care. He proposes equal tax treatment for employer-based insurance and other insurance covers. He also this private charity could help the poor people get better medical care as opposed to government charity (Stossel, 2013).
Question 2
Given the present changes in our healthcare system and the Affordable Care Act, what do you think would have been the best options/changes for our health care system?
I think that the best option/changes would be implementing the affordable care act because it will relieve many Americans the healthcare burden and promote equal opportunity for all to access medical care.
I think the best option would be to extend the eligibility period for the young adults under the parents cover until they are able to secure employment or have a source of income as opposed to the set 26 years. I propose this due to the rise in unemployment rate among the young people.
I think the best change in the healthcare system is to employ more medical care providers and increase the medical care facilities. This should be a collaborative development between the local, state, federal government and private sector.
Question 3.
Support your position with sound and logical arguments and references to reliable public information. I support my position and my logical arguments with reference to an article in the journal of general internal medicine entitled primary healthcare and the US healthcare system: what need to change? The article states that as the government offers the affordable healthcare program, commensurate efforts are required in the medical facilities and the medical staff. Now that medical care is affordable to many people, there will be an increase in the demand for healthcare services and if the medical care providers and facilities remain the same there will be disequilibrium (Bates, 2010).
I support my position and my logical arguments with reference to United States Health and Human Services that the affordable healthcare act will increased the number of health care insurances plans, and the payable premiums will be very low. Thus, the citizens will have a variety to choose from and offer financial aid to poor individuals and households to enable then raise the premiums to access medical care. Medical cover will now be provided to children and young adults who have pre-existing conditions that insurance companies previously denied cover. This will be a relief to people with chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes whose treatment is very expensive.
References
Bates, W., D. (2010). Primary Healthcare and the US Healthcare System. What needs to change? Journal of general internal medicine. 25 (10), 998-999. doi: 10.1007/s11606-010-1464-0
Stossel, J. (2013, April, 25). Free markets or government medicine: what will be the new way? [video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0e3-EvpDwM
United States Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/
