United+States+Healthcare

GOOD STUFF: The government directly covers over 25% of the population through health care programs for the elderly, disabled, military service families and veterans, children, and the poor. Federal law ensures __public access to emergency services__ regardless of ability to pay. BAD STUFF: The __United States__ is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system. The mandatory emergency service access law is unfunded which strains hospitals. Many services are subsidized by taxes, employer-sponsored health insurance is non-taxable. Government spending accounted for 45.1% of total health spending in the U.S. in 2005. US spends 15% of its GDP on health care, the highest percentage in the world. Despite this, only 84.2% of citizens have some form of health insurance coverage. The number of uninsured increased from 44.8 million to 47.0 million from 2005 to 2006. 25% of the country's uninsured, or 11 million people, are eligible for government health care programs but unenrolled. Employers that do provide insurance, on average, spend between 4.6 and 8.7% of their payroll in health insurance premiums. The cost of health care premiums is rising much faster than the general rate of inflation or employee wages. Since 2001, premiums for family coverage have increased 78%, while inflation has risen 17% and wages have risen 19%. LOCAL LEVEL UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE. The Massachussets is implementing a near-universal health care system by mandating that residents purchase __health insurance.__ The City of San __ Francisco __ is also // Table I // undertaking a universal health ** INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ** COMPARISONS care system for Oamida Fran « UK us   uninsured  Health spending .$2,931 $2,736 $2,160 $5,267 residents. per capita, 2002 __ California, Maine, __ Private share of  30% 24%. 17% 55% __ Vermont __ and  spending Hawaii are also Life expectancy 79,7 79.2 78.1 77.1 considering or, , ,. ,, , „ , „  6 Intant mortality x2. .4.5 xO 6.8 seeking to per 1.000 births implement , Phvsiciaus per 2.1 3.3 2,0 2.7 universal or near- .' J , 1.000 people universal systems. Nurses per 9.9 7.0 9.0 S.I  1.000 people Hospital beds per 3.2 4.2 3.9 2.9. 1,000 people // Source: // Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. OECD Health Data '2004
 * United States Healthcare Factsheet **