| Almost half of the nearly 5 trillion dollars in medical | | | | The costs of health care and medication needs |
| and health care related activities can be accounted | | | | are extremely high for senior citizens as a whole. |
| for in the US. It is obvious that our country has | | | | Every year they are fearful of having their |
| well trained professionals, outstanding technology | | | | benefits cut even further, and now they have |
| and a vast array of medication designed to | | | | new worries regarding medical care. |
| address health concerns. Yet, why is medical care | | | | Groups at Risk |
| so costly and problematic for so many individuals | | | | It has been just a few short weeks since |
| to receive? | | | | Governor Sara Palin galvanized many citizens with |
| The Growth of Medical Care | | | | her predictions and comments about "death |
| For most of the worlds more developed countries | | | | panels" and nationalized health care. While there |
| the medical field is one of their largest industries. | | | | were many people who rallied around her |
| If you count the money generated by medication | | | | statements, the mere possibility of such radical |
| sales, diagnostics, nursing homes, hospitals, | | | | notions began sending shock waves through the |
| physicians, and other ancillary activities it is quite | | | | nation. This was particularly unnerving to a large |
| easy to see why the medical industry accounts | | | | percentage of our elderly population. It was also |
| for 10-20% of a country's gross production. | | | | causing concern among advocates for the poor |
| In the US alone there are nearly 800,000 medical | | | | and disabled. Even parents and caretakers of |
| doctors, more than 5000 hospitals and millions of | | | | people with physical and mental challenges were |
| health care workers. One of every dozen US | | | | becoming alarmed, and feeling threatened. |
| citizens works in health care now and this number | | | | Future Allocation of Health Care Resources? |
| is expected to grow. Still there are not enough | | | | Could it be possible that Medical professionals |
| workers and facilities to handle the 20 million | | | | would possibly agree to form commissions that |
| outpatients that are currently being seen every | | | | would allocate health care resources to those |
| day. This staggering amount of outpatient visits | | | | they deemed most deserving? This thought was |
| does not include the average daily count of 4 -5 | | | | both frightening and "Orwellian" in prospect. A |
| million hospitalized patients. | | | | careful review showed that there was no written |
| The vast, complex health care industry in the | | | | documentation that actually stated such |
| United States is one that attracts people from | | | | possibilities, but this did not alleviate the fear and |
| around the globe. Switzerland and Germany both | | | | worry of many ordinary citizens. Just the idea |
| have large medical industries, but these countries | | | | that access to hospitalization or medication needs |
| run their health care differently from the US. | | | | might one day be restricted was enough to |
| Could it be possible that our nation's health care | | | | generate small scale panic in many communities |
| will soon be undergoing a radical type of change? | | | | across the nation. |
| Answers are Difficult to Find | | | | Problems, Problems, Problems |
| Is the answer to the current health care dilemma | | | | Medical concerns, health care and affordable |
| as simple as nationalizing health care for all? Will | | | | medication plans are major sources of worry for |
| this possibility only make the situation worse? | | | | everyone today. Insurance coverage is very |
| How will the medical resources be allocated | | | | expensive. There is a growing trend among |
| among the various segments of our society? | | | | companies to provide less employee and family |
| These are only a few of the questions that are | | | | benefits in order to cut costs. In some cases this |
| waiting to be answered. | | | | is making it difficult for employees to participate in |
| Controversial Topic | | | | the insurance plans being offered by their |
| Today medical health has become a controversial | | | | employers. However a growing number of families |
| subject among many groups of citizens. There is | | | | are too cash strapped to afford health insurance |
| talk of overhauling the medical system as we | | | | premiums on their own. This is creating a "Catch |
| now know it. We are also hearing predictions that | | | | 22" type of environment with people unable to |
| the government will try to restructure the nation's | | | | afford the cost of becoming sick as well as the |
| health care system. Although much of this | | | | cost of being insured. |
| rhetoric has been publicized for a number of | | | | The Answer is Cooperation |
| years it seems that people are becoming more | | | | It is hard to know where the main problems are |
| polarized by the possible changes that are now | | | | within the health industry. Some people want to |
| constantly making headlines. | | | | find fault with the high paid physicians and medical |
| The Senior Citizens Have their own Concerns | | | | specialists and others point the finger of blame at |
| The elderly population in the US is keeping a close | | | | hospitals that seem to be pulling in billions of dollars |
| eye on what is being proposed because health | | | | annually, yet are constantly complaining having too |
| care and medication issues are of great concern | | | | little money. Malpractice lawyers, government |
| to them. Medical and insurance coverage for | | | | regulations and insurance companies have also |
| people 65 and older have undergone many | | | | played a part in today's health care woes. The |
| changes since the 1980s. Most senior citizens are | | | | answer is not going to be easy to find, and every |
| very vocal about their displeasure with the way | | | | group associated with the medical industry will |
| Medicare is addressing the problems, and they are | | | | need to step up to the plate and help out. |
| also worried about what the future might hold. | | | | |