Med News Today

Americans want health care protection, guarantee

The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group has issued a report showing that Americans want two main things from its health care system: protection for all from high medical expenses and guaranteed coverage for specific checkups and treatments.

The group was created by Congress and their report was released Monday, Sept. 25.

From the Executive summary:

Americans want a health care system that works for everyone. But the reality is that the health care system that captures vast amounts of America’s resources, employs many of its talented citizens, and promises to both promote health as well as relieve the burdens of illness is failing far too many of us.

Over the past year, the number of uninsured has grown by more than one million, and
tens of millions more are underinsured, and at immediate risk of financial ruin if they are seriously ill or injured. Individuals, families, employers, and every level
of government are feeling the financial pressure of rising health care costs. More often than not, people do not receive the best care that science has to offer. Many are bewildered by the complexity of health care and insurance coverage. As one citizen voiced to us, you cannot “navigate the health care system without luck, a relationship, money and perseverance.”

The need for change is clear, but transforming health care so that it works for all
Americans is a daunting prospect. It will involve difficult decisions about how health care is organized, delivered, and financed. Years of stalemate on health reform prompted a bipartisan call to go back to the American people, to explore their values and aspirations for the health care system, and to provide the energy needed to sustain real health reform.

The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group was established by Congress to “engage in an
informed national public debate to make choices about the services they want covered,
what health care coverage they want, and how they are willing to pay for coverage.”
What we heard was that many Americans believe that public policy designed to address
the growing crisis in health care cannot succeed unless all Americans are able to get the health care they need, when they need it.

posted by nattietodd @ 7:41 AM