Helping the Eldery - Research Paper Example

According to Pratt (2012), non- whites are more vulnerable because of the social inequalities such as low wage jobs and failing to register with an insurance scheme. Why prescription drugs are expensive The health field in America is very profitable and uneven. America is the world leader in exploring and developing new drugs. Prices are highly influenced by the price of inventing new drugs, which is comparatively higher than the cost of reproducing drugs already in the market. Consequently, the newer drugs are efficient and much safer.

The technology has realized remarkable benefits with patients of HIV/Aids and diabetes now living longer than before. This propels the pharmaceutical companies in America to invent an unbalanced share of drugs in the market (Pratt, 2012). These medicines are highly priced because of market factors. When a company invents a superior and effective drug, the government allows it to monopolize scenarios meaning that they can fabricate and vend the drugs at a legitimate high price. The free market and product effectiveness propel the manufacturer to fix prices at will.

The laws in place disallow the federal administration to negotiate for lower prices. This works to the advantage of the pharmaceutical company. . Nevertheless, critics claim that only a small percentage of income is directed to research and much more is directed to administration, advertising, marketing products, realizing high profits and huge compensation for high profile drug executives. As a result, medical care is increasingly unaffordable to the elderly, retired and low waged people who are not able to meet the yearly expenses required for treatment (Andersen, Rice & Kominski, 2007).

These marketing policies have continued to boost the profitability of pharmaceutical companies while oppressing the people of low income not covered comprehensively by the Medicare program. The political decisions have not addressed this predicament substantially; hence, the moral value of ensuring adequate health care for all is yet to be achieved. Thousands of Americans are travelling to Canada, Mexico and other destinations in attempts to re-import these drugs. Consequently, Canada imports only enough for its market and only a few Americans are able to explore the route.

The rest are left to fight against the high prices; thus, many elderly people are skipping their daily prescription drugs simply because they cannot afford it. The Medicare program should be able to cater for such gaps in the health sector. The current system lacks moral values to regulate such inhuman and inconsiderate trend (Andersen, Rice & Kominski, 2007). Role of government and insurance companies The goal of the government in funding health programs is to contain overall costs. If the government fails to contain costs effectively, the entire program is biased, as some people will lack access to desperately needed healthcare.

Americans normally acquire health insurance from