A lot of developed countries use a centralized health care system which is normally a part of the public health care system. Many undeveloped countries also use a centralized health care system. Centralized health care is not socialized medicine but it is pretty close. There are both proponents and opponents of this type of health care plan. It has both its good points and bad points that can be listed as pros and cons.
Health care options is always controversial because it is a necessity. Everyone needs health care, more correctly everyone needs affordable health care and they look to the government to come up with a solution.
In the United States the health care system is constantly under fire. There have been many changes which have really raised the anxiety level among the public about the changes. People are largely afraid of change because they feel that it may leave them in a worse position than they were in before.
Every health care plan that the government has come up with has its good points and its bad points. Centralized health care is one of those plans that has both pros and cons. Understanding these key issues will help alleviate some of the concerns about centralized health care.
The Pros of Centralized Health Care
1. Cheaper Health Care Costs.
Centralized health care reduces the cost of health care for everyone. It can be a great way to make health care affordable for everyone including the government that subsidizes most of the health care under a centralized health care plan.
People do not realize that a big part of their health care is already subsidized by the government. They think that centralized health care will actually drive costs up but the reality is that it will actually bring health care costs down.
2. Connected Care.
Centralized care makes getting the right care easier and also can make diagnosis more accurate. When every doctor that you see has immediate access to your health records it means that a lot less time has to be wasted by the doctor or nurse collecting your health history.
It can also help improve upon the accuracy of diagnosis which in turn not only gives you better health care but it also saves money on costly tests that may not be necessary.
3. Equal Health Care Opportunities.
Equal health care is available to all the different socioeconomic groups regardless of standing or finances. A centralized health care system would mean that money would be a lot less important in seeking top medical treatment.
The Cons of Centralized Health Care
1. Long Waits.
One of the biggest problems in countries that use a centralized health care system are the waits for non emergency services. For example if you have a health condition that requires surgery but it is not a life threatening situation is Wales you can spend up to 6 months waiting to be able to have the surgery.
For people that DO NOT have health conditions that need continued treatment getting an appointment can also be met with long waits.
2. A Decline in Capitalism.
Capitalism is built on the idea that the harder you work the more successful you will be. Centralized health care systems typically set cap off prices on what a doctor or health provider can charge. By setting these limits you remove the need for health care providers to compete and excel. It can actually back fire and make health care providers lack a desire to achieve.
3. Over Sharing of Information.
A centralized health care system would leave a lot of “cooks in the kitchen”. There would be a great deal of people that would be able to see health records in direct violation of hard won HIPPA laws. Some opponents fear that health information could be used to create a bias.
Overall
While everyone agrees that the health care system in the United States is a mess. Some people blame the corporate machine for increasing health care costs. Others blame the government. Others blame the uninsured and it seems that no one has an answer.
Centralized health care may be the answer but it may not be the answer that a large percentage of the population wants.
Is there a way to repair the health care system and keep everyone happy with the plan? Probably not. Sometimes it looks like that choice will have to be the lesser of the evils that are offered up as solutions. Everyone deserves health care. It should be affordable. The quality of health care should not be relative to the amount you can pay for it.