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Priyanka Patel Instructor: Malcolm Campbell English 1102 12/4/2013 Health Care Destroying America? he !nite" #tates o$ %merica spen"s appro&imately 1'( o$ its )ross *omestic Pro"uct on +ealth Care, his makes %merica the highest spen"er in +ealth Care aroun" the -orl" base" on its people. hat is appro&imately /01223 per person spent on health care 23ee4. 5ut1 the !nite" #tates6 is not number one in the -orl" $or its health. . 73i$e e&pectancy at birth increase" by almost nine years bet-een 1890 an" 20101 but that:s less than the increase o$ o;er 1< years in =apan an" o;er 11 years on a;erage in >EC* 2>rgani?ation $or Economic Co@>peration an" *e;elopment4 countriesA Bancy 3ee the -riter $or +ealth Costs: +o- the !.#. Compares Cith >ther Countries1 P5# article. he !nite" #tates is kno-n $or o;erspen"ing on many things me"ical relate". he lack

o$ competition $or physicians an" "octors1 allo-s them to hike up the prices $or e;en a ;isit to the "octor. o %s a -hole1 %merica o;er@tests on many surgical proce"ures an" scans. here

are more caesarian sections "one in the !nite" #tates than any other country. his o;er@screening or testing is "one1 so physicians "o not get blame" $or anything. he o$$icials "o it on a regular basis $or precautionary measures1 but

that spikes up the a;erage househol"s me"ical bill by hun"re"s o$ "ollars. o In the !nite" #tates1 there are a little more than 3 million people1 but roughly only '001000 "octors1 physicians1 an" surgeons 2%ltman4. hese statistics lea" to

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almost 1/420< ratio1 o$ one "octor to about 420< people. #tating that there are not enough me"ical practitioners helping people an" their physical health. he lo-

number o$ physicians lea"s to less competition1 resulting in costly me"ical bills $or patients. his increase in the me"ical bills lea"s to an increase in physicians6 paycheck but lo-er money in the a;erage househol"s that ha;e me"ical issues. %s technology a";ances in the me"ical systems the "octors an" physicians -ant to get the neeDuipment1 they charge e&tra to patients to help pay $or the cost o$ ne- goo"s bought. %s insurance rates increase it lea"s to an increase in the amount o$ money spent on +ealth Care1 $or e&ample: o Obesity issues lea" to many problems in the me"ical system. Most hospitals ha" to e&pan" their "oors or reDuest bigger be"s $or many patients. Patients "iagnose" -ith obesity ha;e been linke" to certain heart problems1 "iabetes1 an" many other me"ical con"itions. he number o$ patients -ith these con"itions has increase"

the amount o$ money insurance companies ha;e to pay in or"er to pay o$$ part o$ the bill. *ue to the rising number o$ patients1 insurance companies ha;e to increase their prices on insurance plans. o Smokers ha;e to pay higher co@pay than non@smokers1 because o$ the a""e" risk that smoking in;ol;es. %ny ne- $acility that takes insurance -ill ask -hether or not you smoke. I$ the ans-er is yes1 the price o$ your me"ical ;isit at the "octor shoots up. Chen the prices $or the me"ical proce"ure goes up1 the insurance companies ha;e to pay a higher percentage o$ the patient6s bill1 increasing their premium an" lessening the insurance6s chance to make a pro$it. his lea"s to

higher insurance rates $or smokers an" in"irectly more bills $or non@smokers.

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Bon@smokers recei;e the secon" han" smoke e$$ect o$ the ba" Duality air. Bon@smokers get -orse e$$ects o$ the smoke then regular smokers. his puts them at a higher risk o$ "iseases1 ha;ing them pay more $or ;isits at the "octor6s o$$ice an" e&pensi;e proce"ures. E;en though !nite" #tates has many -ays that it helps the cost o$ health care go up1 there are many -ays the !nite" #tates is trying to maintain its e&penses on its people. Presi"ent >bama is trying a ne- uni;ersal health care program that is suppose" to help out these me"ical e&penses. his health care act is calle" the %$$or"able +ealth Care1 or better kno-n as the

>bama Care. %$$or"able +ealth Care helps $amily pay less $or me"ical cost1 e;en though I think this may lea" to a higher "ebt in the Ee"eral *e$icit. %t the beginning the Ee"eral *e$icit -as in the trillions ho-e;er1 it has "ecrease" in the past couple o$ years. he ne- +ealth Care la- may

increase the "e$icit by a $e- "ollars1 economy is still rising up. %merica still has opportunities to rise out o$ the "e$icit an" help the +ealth Care cost -hich is much nee"e" no- an" $or years to come. he health care system right no- is slightly un$air to -omen1 because -omen are charge" more than men $or health insurance co;erage. Comen are a$$ecte" maForly in certain situations $or instanceG they reDuire more mammograms1 contracepti;e pills1 pregnancy tests1 hysterectomies1 an" "epression. %s a -hole1 !nite" #tates has the least increase on anything health relate" e&cept money1 compare" to the >EC* countries. +ealth care in %merica is getting -orse but the money spent on health care is increasing. +o-H ChyH %n" -hat are -e "oing to stop the e&cessi;e spen"ingH 7Comen compose o$: '3( o$ me"ical an" health ser;ice managers 25ar?ansky1 an" Et?el441 74'( o$ me"ical school gra"uatesA 25ar?ansky1 an" Et?el41 an" 732( o$ all "octors an"

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surgeonsA 25ar?ansky1 an" Et?el4. Comen hol" a high stan"ar" in the health $iel" yet they are treate" un$air not only in the health care1 but in other areas as -ell. %ccor"ing to a stu"y "one by Ioberta +all1 -ith the assistance o$ 5ernice I. #an"ler 1 7-omen are interrupte" more thanA 2Dt" in Ellen41 7$aculty members make eye contact -ith male stu"ents more o$ten than -ith $emale stu"entsA 2Dt" in Ellen41 7$aculty members are more likely to kno- an" use the names o$ their male stu"ents than $emale stu"entsA 2Dt" in Ellen41 an" 7-omen are o$ten aske" $e-er or easier Duestions than malesA 2Dt" in Ellen4. Comen also a;erage a 7lo-er income than menA1 resulting in 7more than hal$ o$ -omen "elayJingK or a;oi"JingK necessary careA 2L%$$or"able Care %ct Iules on E&pan"ing %ccess to Pre;enti;e #er;ices $or ComenL4 reporte" by the Common-ealth Eun" in 2008. %s one stu"y relate" mammograms an" -omen getting them a$ter the sharing cost -as remo;e". hey $oun" that the 7rate o$ getting a mammogram -ent up as much as 8(A2L%$$or"able Care %ct Iules on E&pan"ing %ccess to Pre;enti;e #er;ices $or ComenL4. Comen in the %$$or"able Care %ct ha;e it better than be$ore. he ne- system o$$ers

-omen to get mammograms $or no cost to them. Comen can also get E*% appro;e" birth control $or $ree. I$ -omen are uninsure" they -ill still be able to go to the "octor an" get a 7-ell@-omen ;isit to no cost to herA says M.*. Bancy 3ee1 -riter o$ The Affordable Care Act: Speaking to Womens unique Health Needs. Comen use" to be charge" more $or insurance than man1 but once the %$$or"able +ealth Care is passe" -omen -ill not be charge" more than men. #ome may ;ie- this as a -ay $or -omen to spen" all o$ the ta& payers6 money gi;en to the go;ernment. +o-e;er1 this process may sa;e li;es an" en" the misery $or many -omen -ho are hesitant to go get a check@up or mammogram Fust because o$ money. Comen are li;ing more than men yet i$ they ha;e to li;e -ith cancer an" shorten their li$espanG there is no Fustice in that.

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%s a -oman ages1 her physical an" mental health starts to -orsen. %s -omen age they are more likely to get certain type o$ "iseases or illnesses. hey are at a higher risk $or mental

health illnesses an" physical illnesses. 7Comen ages 10@28 -ere the most likely to ha;e e&cellent or ;ery goo" percei;e" general health 29'.1 percent4 2%ltman1 an" aylor4. 5y ages 4<@941 only <9.9 percent ha" e&cellent or ;ery goo" general healthMa signi$icant "ropA 2%ltman1 an" aylor4. Comen1 as they get ol"er nee" more attention gi;en to them1 at that time o$ their li$e. %s -omen6s age starts to escalate e;en more1 their health starts to get much -orse. hese

-omen may be $ace" -ith stress or "eath o$ their lo;e" one1 or "amage "one to them because making them immobile. #omething nee"e" to be "one here to assure -omen -ith illnesses -ere being care" $or properly an" treate" correctly. 5ecause o$ this assurance that -as nee"e" the go;ernment or someone in o$$ice nee"e" to "o something. his peace o$ min" -as gi;en to

them by the %$$or"able Care %ct1 especially i$ they -ere not able to be co;ere" by Me"icare. he presi"ent "i" not -ant to see anyone $acing these types o$ issues so1 he consi"ere" a plan to help the el"erly1 physically or mentally sick1 chil"ren an" especially -omen. he i"ea o$ ha;ing

%merica to a uni;ersal health care system -as to help these -omen no matter their age an" anyone else out any-ay possible. he go;ernment al-ays $ocuse" on physical illnesses -hen gi;ing out bene$its1 but nobo"y e;er Duestione" about the importance o$ mental illnesses present in %merica. Mental illnesses ha;e ne;er gi;en a lot o$ thought by the +ealth Care #ystem. +o-e;er1 anyone -ith a mental illness coul" not Duali$y $or certain healthcare plans. hese %mericans -ere "enie" their

right to health care as a -hole Fust because they -ere seeme" as un$it. hese %merican -ere alrea"y ha;ing a har" time an" they ha" to "eal -ith the go;ernment taking a-ay their right to health care. Comen1 in general1 are more assessable to get "iagnose" $or mental health "isor"ers.

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his may ho-e;er be the case because men -ill not come out an" say they ha;e a problem. Men are more likely to hi"e their $eelings1 emotions an" pain. 7Comen ten" to su$$er more $rom -hat -e call Ninternal6 problems like "epression or sleep problemsA 2LC5# %tlantaL4 say *r. *aniel Ereeman1 a researcher -ho le" a stu"y1 -hich is to appear in the book1 7 he #tresse" #e&: !nco;ering the ruth about Men1 Comen an" Mental +ealth1A *r. Ereeman goes to say that 7 hey J-omenK take out problems on themsel;es1 as it -ere1 -here men ha;e e&ternali?ing problems1 -here they take things out on their en;ironment1 such as alcohol an" anger problemsA 2LC5# %tlantaL4. Mental illnesses -ere being seen as an issue in %merica -hich nee"e" men"ing. Issues1 that coul" only be resol;e" i$ the person -ent to the "octor to get a check@up. Mental illnesses are easier "etecte" i$ "one by psychologists -ho kno- more about the ;arious types o$ illnesses. Psychologist may e;en re$er to getting brain scans -hich can cost loa"s o$ money. Chen -omen are "iagnose" -ith any type o$ mental illness coul" be paying more than men Fust a $e- years back. *ue to these $acts1 -omen -ith mental illnesses -ill no- recei;e insurance by the go;ernment1 $or mental health issues parallel to physical issues. Men are also being treate" better -ith the ne- %$$or"able Care %ct. Men that are mentally ill get the same treatment as the -omen. Ooung males are also eligible to stay on their parents insurance until the age o$ 29 25ar?ansky4. In the %$$or"able Care %ct males -ill not be able to be turne" "o-n because o$ any mental health issues. Men -ho might be su$$ering $rom any me"ical issues -ill not be turne" "o-n. #o men -ill not be treate" "i$$erently than -omen in the %$$or"able Care %ct. hey -ill recei;e the same insurance prices -omen get1 -omen -ill

ho-e;er not be charge" more $or insurance. Comen -ill ho-e;er get more a";antages in the +ealth Care #ystem than be$ore. he %$$or"able Care %ct is not to "iscriminate against a gen"er

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group. Its main purpose o$ it is to help e;ery citi?en o$ %merica recei;e co;erage on any insurance plan no matter -hat types o$ me"ical or economic stan"point. Ce1 as %mericans1 ha;e -orke" together in or"er to help -omen recei;e the eDuality in healthcare they nee"e" an" "eser;e". Ce raise" our ;oices1 an" they -ere $inally hear" by our 44th presi"ent1 Presi"ent >bama. +e brought upon the i"ea o$ uni;ersal health care an" noe;ery -oman in the !nite" #tates has a health plan that is right an" a$$or"able $or them. Presi"ent >bama -orke" out ne- i"eas in or"er to stop the e&cessi;e spen"ing on health care. his ne- care system "esigne" by Presi"ent >bama has helpe" many -omen alrea"y an" -ill continue to help them by pro;i"ing basic screening an" ai" to those -omen in nee". %s in"i;i"uals o$ %merica -e shoul" help him by "oing -hat -e can to stay healthy1 maintaining a goo" en;ironment $or others1 an" impro;ing our Duality o$ li$e. -ill stri;e -ith more money in our pockets $or other uses. help us get out o$ the Ee"eral *e$icit. able to sol;e hal$ o$ its health issues. his -ay -e as a community

his -ill help out our economy an"

he moment -e get out o$ the "e$icit1 %merica -ill be he "ay -hen the people o$ %merica $in" a -ay to eat

healthier1 maintain a "ecent bo"y mass in"e&1 an" e&ercise1 our health care cost -ill "ecrease on its o-n. In the en" no matter ho- much the Presi"ent or any other go;ernment o$$icial tries to help us1 -e -ill ha;e to start as an in"i;i"ual $irst in or"er to make a "i$$erence.

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Cork Cite" L%$$or"able Care %ct Iules on E&pan"ing %ccess to Pre;enti;e #er;ices $or Comen.L . !# *epartment o$ +ealth an" +uman #er;ices1 20 =un 2013. Ceb. 30 >ct 2013. %ltman1 5. M. an" aylor1 %. P. Iesearch Ein"ings Q1': Comen in the +ealth Care #ystem: +ealth #tatus1 Insurance1 an" %ccess to Care. Bo;ember 2001. %gency $or +ealthcare Iesearch an" Ruality1 Iock;ille1 M*. 5ar?ansky1 5.1 an" #. I. Et?el. B.p.. Ceb. 30 >ct 2013. Ellen1 #.. B.p.. Ceb. 30 >ct 2013. 3ee1 Bancy. L he %$$or"able Care %ct: #peaking to Comen6s !niDue +ealth Bee"s.L The White House log. B.p.1 08 %ug 2013. Ceb. 30 >ct. 2013.

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Pane1 =. L+ealth Costs: +o- the !.#. Compares Cith >ther Countries.L ! S Ne"shour. n. page. Ceb. 30 >ct. 2013. Pates1 =enni$er. Home !erspecti#es !olic$ %nsights Ho" the ACA Changes !ath"a$s to %nsurance Co#erage for !eople "ith H%& Ho" the ACA Changes !ath"a$s to %nsurance Co#erage for !eople "ith H%&. B.p.1 10 #ep 2012. Ceb. 30 >ct 2013. L#tu"y: Comen 40 Percent More 3ikely o *e;elop Mental Illness han Men.L C S Atlanta 23 may 20131 n. pag. Ceb. 30 >ct. 2013.