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Priyanka Patel Instructor: Malcolm Campbell English 1102 10/31/2013 Health Care Destroying America? The nite! "tates o# $merica spen!s appro%imately 1&' o# its (ross )omestic Pro!uct on *ealth Care+ This makes $merica the highest spen!er in *ealth Care aroun! the ,orl! base! on its people- That is appro%imately ./0223 per person spent on health care 12ee3- 4ut0 the nite! "tates5 is not number one in the ,orl! #or its health- - 62i#e e%pectancy at birth increase! by almost nine years bet,een 1780 an! 20100 but that9s less than the increase o# o:er 1; years in <apan an! o:er 11 years on a:erage in =EC) 1=rgani>ation #or Economic Co?=peration an! )e:elopment3 countries@ Aancy 2ee the ,riter #or *ealth Costs: *o, the -"- Compares Bith =ther Countries0 P4" article The nite! "tates is kno,n #or o:erspen!ing on many things me!ical relate!- The lack o# competition #or physicians an! !octors0 allo,s them to hike up the prices #or e:en a :isit to the !octoro $s a ,hole0 $merica o:er?tests on many surgical proce!ures an! scans- There are more caesarian sections !one in the nite! "tates than any other countryThis o:er?screening or testing is !one0 so physicians !o not get blame! #or anything- The o##icials !o it on a regular basis #or precautionary measures0 but that spikes up the a:erage househol!s me!ical bill by hun!re!s o# !ollarso In the nite! "tates0 there are a little more than 3 million people0 but roughly only &000000 !octors0 physicians0 an! surgeons 1$ltman3- These statistics lea! to

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almost 1/C2/; ratio0 o# one !octor to about C2/; people- "tating that there are not enough me!ical practitioners helping people an! their physical health- The lo, number o# physicians lea!s to less competition0 resulting in costly me!ical bills #or patients- This increase in the me!ical bills lea!s to an increase in physicians5 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 ne, eDuipment0 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 Care0 #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 problems0 !iabetes0 an! many other me!ical con!itions- The 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# patients0 insurance companies ha:e to increase their prices on insurance planso Smokers ha:e to pay higher co?pay than non?smokers0 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 yes0 the price o# your me!ical :isit at the !octor shoots up- Bhen the prices #or the me!ical proce!ure goes up0 the insurance companies ha:e to pay a higher percentage o# the patient5s bill0 increasing their premium an! lessening the insurance5s chance to make a pro#it- This lea!s to higher insurance rates #or smokers an! in!irectly more bills #or non?smokers-

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Aon?smokers recei:e the secon! han! smoke e##ect o# the ba! Duality airAon?smokers get ,orse e##ects o# the smoke then regular smokers- This puts them at a higher risk o# !iseases0 ha:ing them pay more #or :isits at the !octor5s o##ice an! e%pensi:e proce!uresE:en though nite! "tates has many ,ays that it helps the cost o# health care go up0 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- This health care act is calle! the $##or!able *ealth Care0 or better kno,n as the =bama Care- $##or!able *ealth Care helps #amily pay less #or me!ical cost0 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:er0 it has !ecrease! in the past couple o# years- The ne, *ealth Care la, may increase the !e#icit by a #e, !ollars0 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 comeThe health care system right no, is slightly un#air to ,omen0 because ,omen are charge! more than men #or health insurance co:erage- Bomen are a##ecte! maForly in certain situations #or instanceG they reDuire more mammograms0 contracepti:e pills0 pregnancy tests0 hysterectomies0 an! !epression- $s a ,hole0 nite! "tates has the least increase on anything health relate! e%cept money0 compare! to the =EC) countries- *ealth care in $merica is getting ,orse but the money spent on health care is increasing- *o,H BhyH $n! ,hat are ,e !oing to stop the e%cessi:e spen!ingH 6Bomen compose o#: &3' o# me!ical an! health ser:ice managers 14ar>ansky0 an! Et>el330 6C&' o# me!ical school gra!uates@ 14ar>ansky0 an! Et>el30 an! 632' o# all !octors an!

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surgeons@ 14ar>ansky0 an! Et>el3- Bomen hol! a high stan!ar! in the health #iel! yet they are treate! un#air not only in the health care0 but in other areas as ,ell- $ccor!ing to a stu!y !one by Ioberta *all0 ,ith the assistance o# 4ernice I- "an!ler 0 6,omen are interrupte! more than@ 1Dt! in Ellen30 6#aculty members make eye contact ,ith male stu!ents more o#ten than ,ith #emale stu!ents@ 1Dt! in Ellen30 6#aculty members are more likely to kno, an! use the names o# their male stu!ents than #emale stu!ents@ 1Dt! in Ellen30 an! 6,omen are o#ten aske! #e,er or easier Duestions than males@ 1Dt! in Ellen3- Bomen also a:erage a 6lo,er income than men@0 resulting in 6more than hal# o# ,omen !elayJingK or a:oi!JingK necessary care@ 1L$##or!able Care $ct Iules on E%pan!ing $ccess to Pre:enti:e "er:ices #or BomenL3 reporte! by the Common,ealth Eun! in 2007- $s one stu!y relate! mammograms an! ,omen getting them a#ter the sharing cost ,as remo:e!- They #oun! that the 6rate o# getting a mammogram ,ent up as much as 7'@1L$##or!able Care $ct Iules on E%pan!ing $ccess to Pre:enti:e "er:ices #or BomenL3Bomen in the $##or!able Care $ct ha:e it better than be#ore- The ne, system o##ers ,omen to get mammograms #or no cost to them- Bomen can also get E)$ appro:e! birth control #or #ree- I# ,omen are uninsure! they ,ill still be able to go to the !octor an! get a 6,ell?,omen :isit to no cost to her@ says M-)- Aancy 2ee0 ,riter o# The Affordable Care Act: Speaking to Womens unique Health Needs. Bomen use! to be charge! more #or insurance than man0 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% payers5 money gi:en to the go:ernment- *o,e:er0 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- Bomen 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 ages0 her physical an! mental health starts to ,orsen- $s ,omen age they are more likely to get certain type o# !iseases or illnesses- They are at a higher risk #or mental health illnesses an! physical illnesses- 6Bomen ages 1/?27 ,ere the most likely to ha:e e%cellent or :ery goo! percei:e! general health 18&-1 percent3 1$ltman0 an! Taylor3- 4y ages C;?8C0 only ;8-8 percent ha! e%cellent or :ery goo! general healthMa signi#icant !rop@ 1$ltman0 an! Taylor3- Bomen0 as they get ol!er nee! more attention gi:en to them0 at that time o# their li#e- $s ,omen5s age starts to escalate e:en more0 their health starts to get much ,orse- These ,omen may be #ace! ,ith stress or !eath o# their lo:e! one0 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- 4ecause o# this assurance that ,as nee!e! the go:ernment or someone in o##ice nee!e! to !o something- This peace o# min! ,as gi:en to them by the $##or!able Care $ct0 especially i# they ,ere not able to be co:ere! by Me!icareThe presi!ent !i! not ,ant to see anyone #acing these types o# issues so0 he consi!ere! a plan to help the el!erly0 physically or mentally sick0 chil!ren an! especially ,omen- The 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 possibleThe go:ernment al,ays #ocuse! on physical illnesses ,hen gi:ing out bene#its0 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:er0 anyone ,ith a mental illness coul! not Duali#y #or certain healthcare plans- These $mericans ,ere !enie! their right to health care as a ,hole Fust because they ,ere seeme! as un#it- These $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- Bomen0 in general0 are more assessable to get !iagnose! #or mental health !isor!ers-

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This 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 #eelings0 emotions an! pain- 6Bomen ten! to su##er more #rom ,hat ,e call Ninternal5 problems like !epression or sleep problems@ 1LC4" $tlantaL3 say )r)aniel Ereeman0 a researcher ,ho le! a stu!y0 ,hich is to appear in the book0 6The "tresse! "e%: nco:ering the Truth about Men0 Bomen an! Mental *ealth0@ )r- Ereeman goes to say that 6They J,omenK take out problems on themsel:es0 as it ,ere0 ,here men ha:e e%ternali>ing problems0 ,here they take things out on their en:ironment0 such as alcohol an! anger problems@ 1LC4" $tlantaL3- Mental illnesses ,ere being seen as an issue in $merica ,hich nee!e! men!ing- Issues0 that coul! only be resol:e! i# the person ,ent to the !octor to get a check?upMental 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- Bhen ,omen are !iagnose! ,ith any type o# mental illness coul! be paying more than men Fust a #e, years back- )ue to these #acts0 ,omen ,ith mental illnesses ,ill no, recei:e insurance by the go:ernment0 #or mental health issues parallel to physical issuesMen 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# 28 14ar>ansky3- 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- They ,ill recei:e the same insurance prices ,omen get0 ,omen ,ill ho,e:er not be charge! more #or insurance- Bomen ,ill ho,e:er get more a!:antages in the *ealth Care "ystem than be#ore- The $##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!pointBe0 as $mericans0 ha:e ,orke! together in or!er to help ,omen recei:e the eDuality in healthcare they nee!e! an! !eser:e!- Be raise! our :oices0 an! they ,ere #inally hear! by our CCth presi!ent0 Presi!ent =bama- *e brought upon the i!ea o# uni:ersal health care an! no, e:ery ,oman in the nite! "tates has a health plan that is right an! a##or!able #or themPresi!ent =bama ,orke! out ne, i!eas in or!er to stop the e%cessi:e spen!ing on health careThis 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 healthy0 maintaining a goo! en:ironment #or others0 an! impro:ing our Duality o# li#e- This ,ay ,e as a community ,ill stri:e ,ith more money in our pockets #or other uses- This ,ill help out our economy an! help us get out o# the Ee!eral )e#icit- The moment ,e get out o# the !e#icit0 $merica ,ill be able to sol:e hal# o# its health issues- The !ay ,hen the people o# $merica #in! a ,ay to eat healthier0 maintain a !ecent bo!y mass in!e%0 an! e%ercise0 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 us0 ,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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Bork Cite! L$##or!able Care $ct Iules on E%pan!ing $ccess to Pre:enti:e "er:ices #or Bomen-L - " )epartment o# *ealth an! *uman "er:ices0 2/ <un 2013- Beb- 30 =ct 2013$ltman0 4- M- an! Taylor0 $- P- Iesearch Ein!ings Q1&: Bomen in the *ealth Care "ystem: *ealth "tatus0 Insurance0 an! $ccess to Care- Ao:ember 2001- $gency #or *ealthcare Iesearch an! Ruality0 Iock:ille0 M)4ar>ansky0 4-0 an! "- I- Et>el- A-p-- Beb- 30 =ct 2013Ellen0 "-- A-p-- Beb- 30 =ct 20132ee0 Aancy- LThe $##or!able Care $ct: "peaking to Bomen5s niDue *ealth Aee!s-L The White House log- A-p-0 07 $ug 2013- Beb- 30 =ct- 2013-

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Pane0 <- L*ealth Costs: *o, the -"- Compares Bith =ther Countries-L ! S Ne"shour- n- pageBeb- 30 =ct- 2013Pates0 <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%&- A-p-0 1/ "ep 2012- Beb- 30 =ct 2013L"tu!y: Bomen C0 Percent More 2ikely To )e:elop Mental Illness Than Men-L C S Atlanta 23 may 20130 n- pag- Beb- 30 =ct- 2013-