Healthcare costs are constantly on the rise. Not everyone can afford it and not everyone can qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. So what is the Federal Government doing about it? Not much. The problem with the way our government is set up is that there are too many opinions, which slow the process down tremendously.

Let’s look at what systems are in place and what could be done to improve healthcare.

What Medicaid and Medicare do for Healthcare

If you qualify for one of these, then healthcare is provided to you, at least in part, at no cost to you. There is supplemental insurance that you can get to cover what the government provided insurance doesn’t cover.

If you are not low income, disabled or over 65, however, none of these healthcare programs will apply to you. Your taxes help fund it, though. The system is lopsided and while the government has identified this problem with the healthcare system, there are no real moves to change it in the near future.

Looking at the Ryan Plan for Healthcare

One of the most current efforts to help manage the healthcare system is put on the table by House budget committee chairman, Paul Ryan. He wants to turn the Medicare system into a voucher program that would allow people to take their Medicare payment and buy private insurance. It would change starting in 2022. The whole premise of this bill, if it passes, would be to switch the primary costs of medical bills from the government to the individual.

Medicare’s fund is quickly running out, which would leave everyone completely vulnerable by 2024. However, if the bill passes, everyone would at least get something towards healthcare. So while it’s not the answer everyone is looking for, it’s the only bill on the table at the moment that will at least be something for everyone who isn’t on Medicare now.

Healthcare in Other Countries

The healthcare in many countries such as Canada and England is covered by the government. Many in the U.S. are crossing the border into Canada just to get affordable prescriptions. After all, if you’re sick in one of those countries, you simply walk into a hospital without having to worry about insurance and payments. So why doesn’t the U.S. government implement the same type of healthcare?

The U.S. is spending almost double what Canada is on healthcare per person; however, it’s only for Medicaid and Medicare, which counts for about 25% of all Americans. If you don’t qualify for either of these, then the healthcare system isn’t doing much for you. It is said that the Canadian Parliament makes it easier for decisions to be made, so the way the current government is laid out, they may take years (if ever) to make the switch.

There is certainly talk that the Canadian healthcare system has its flaws, which it does. The biggest complaint is that there’s too long of a wait. At least when they get done waiting, it’s free. Ninety-nine percent of Canadians are happy with their healthcare coverage.

Potential Costs of Healthcare

Ultimately, it looks like the potential costs of healthcare are going to keep rising. If you work for a company that offers medical insurance, it will certainly be a savings from what it would be on your own but it is still not going to be cheap. Companies are trying to offer more affordable plans but in doing so they are not giving the people what they want. Spending accounts are costing people more money than the deductible plans, but it seems to be the only affordable option for healthcare in some cases.

The federal government is trying to manage the system, but in doing so, they are throwing off the balance. Right now, education is where the most money goes to, not healthcare. The money has to come from somewhere, so if they improve healthcare too much, will education suffer?

This is the question that many are asking and no one seems to have an answer yet. No one wants education costs to suffer yet no one wants to pay any more money in healthcare, either. So if the money doesn’t come from education, will it come from the Americans’ pockets? No one wants to spend any more money in taxes, either, which is why the Federal Government seems to be stuck in limbo on this one.

The Future of Healthcare

The future of healthcare in the United States doesn’t appear to be changing drastically in the near future. If anything, it appears to be getting worse for those on Medicare if the Ryan Plan does pass. If it doesn’t pass, those who are younger than 55 may not have anything to receive upon reaching that age. Insurance costs are constantly on the rise and there’s no relief coming for covering those costs.

Unlike other countries, the U.S. is being run by the private insurance companies and in order to get a break on premiums, we are at the mercy of these insurance companies. Healthcare is an extremely expensive venture, which is why many Americans are left undiagnosed for serious health problems.

If the balance is disrupted too much to improve healthcare costs, however, which other program will suffer as a result? It’s a delicate balance that the government is trying to get a hold of but to no avail, currently. Everyone agrees that drastic measures need to be taken but there are no such ideas being presented that seem to be helpful for everyone.

Once the U.S. decides on a healthcare solution, it looks like someone will suffer for it, it just depends on whom. Medicare, Medicaid or the general population will be affected as the government tries to do something. The remaining 75% of the population are left to their own devices for insurance, so something needs to be done to make it affordable.