The Relationship Between Economy, Employment, and Health Care Coverage - Assignment Example

Economics and healthcare Introduction The ultimate objective of any effective healthcare system is the provision of equitable access to healthcare as well as ensuring of liberty and opportunity to access prompt medical assistance when needed. The concerns regarding equitable provision of healthcare services across all sections of the society, regardless of any racial, social or economic bias, pose a critical challenge to healthcare providers across the globe, and more so in the United States. This is mainly due to the fact that the complex relationship between various factors such as employment, access to health care, health coverage, etc in the United States are shaped and influenced largely by the country’s economy. Hence any significant change in the economy brings about simultaneous changes in access to and provision of health care. In a system which is bound by an employment-based healthcare coverage and where provision of healthcare essentially depends on the country’s economy, understanding the impact of economics on health care is of crucial significance. The healthcare system in the United States is focused on provision of services which are cost-effective to consumers who demand greater accessibility and better quality at affordable rates (White, 2005). A country which is regarded as the world leader in terms of medical advances and research and technology in the field of medicine, the lack of access to healthcare and primary health care services is one of the most critical and on-going issues faced by it since several decades (Gulliford and Morgan, 2003). An overwhelming majority of the population who are at the bottom of the economic pyramid include those insured by Medicaid, low wage earners as well as those who are uninsured and underinsured. This paper discusses the complex interactions between economics, employment, and provision of healthcare services in the country; the impact of the impact of provision of healthcare to a vulnerable section of the population such as the uninsured; the key implications for nursing in delivering patient care to the uninsured and its impact on the nursing profession. The relationship between economy, employment, and health care coverage: Any disturbance in the economy of a country is likely to result in the usage of and access to medical care, since it directly affects the individual’s ability to pay for such care. Recessions often lead to large scale unemployment, which in turn affect the access to insurance, since most of the healthcare services in the United States are employment-based (Catalano, 2009). Figure: Impact of economy on insurance coverage Source: Walt, (2009): 24 Furthermore the willingness of an individual to pay for health care is significantly reduced due to the lack of availability of financial resources at their disposal, thus resulting in lower usage of health and medical care (Feinstein, 1993; Sullivan and Watcher, 2009). There is significant evidence put forward by researchers on the basis of various studies, which indicate similar responses by individuals from across the world (Yang, Prescott, and Bae, 2001). Thus access to and provision of health care is directly affected due to any change in the economy. In countries like the United States where the healthcare coverage is employment based, loss of jobs results in loss of insurance for various households. Since most of the insurance cost is borne by the employers, it differs widely across various states in the country and any significant change in the economy leads to a simultaneous change in the insurance policies and healthcare coverage provided to the employees. Impact of economics on provision of healthcare to different population groups: The United States spends approximately 17.9 % of its gross domestic product on health care during the year 2011 (Bloomberg Business Week, 2011), making health care one of the single largest sector in the U.S. economy. However regardless of the high amount of expenditure in the sector, a significant proportion of the American population is still deprived of adequate healthcare services (McIntosh, 2012). According to available statistics, nearly 17.3 % of adult Americans were known to be uninsured of which 19.9 % were between the age group of 26 and 64. Almost half of the total unemployed and underemployed population in the United States are known to lack adequate healthcare coverage of which 56% of them were known to deliberately delay care services on account of high medical costs (National Nurses United, 2012). Furthermore it is also observed that the access to healthcare services is largely dependent on the socio-economic factors and that the factors such as household income, poverty, unemployment, and racial, cultural, and ethnic background of individuals play a key role in access to healthcare. Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2012). The poverty rate in the United States during the year 2011 was recorded to be 15% with almost 46.2 million people living in poverty. The poverty rates were consistent across certain specific demographic group comprising of culturally diverse populations such as Hispanics, and other foreign born non-citizens. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). Statistics suggest a direct relationship between poverty, age, gender, ethnicity and access to insurance coverage. Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2011). Available at: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/data/incpovhlth/2011/figure10.pdf Impact of economics on the provision of healthcare to a vulnerable population: The Uninsured The term vulnerable population group refers to a group which is not effectively integrated within the country’s healthcare system due to various socio-economic differences such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, or health characteristics (Chesnay, 2005). The alienation of such groups on account of these factors tends to deprive them from accessing required healthcare services thus resulting in potential damage to their health in the process. It has been observed that people belonging to culturally and ethnically different backgrounds; children; individuals suffering from chronic illnesses; etc are highly vulnerable sections of population who lack proper means to access medical services due to lack of insurance coverage. Such disparities deprive them of their right to equitable access to healthcare. The lack of adequate access to primary healthcare drastically increases the odds of deterioration of health due to non-treatment of chronic illnesses such as incarceration, injuries, substance abuse, or other psychological issues. Furthermore, lack of adequate insurance cover prevents them from managing or improving their health conditions, thus resulting in poorer health (McElroy, 2009). Figure: Impact of socio-economic status on individual health Source: CDC Report, (2011) Pp. 6 Figure: % of uninsured for the state of NC Range in North Carolina (Min-Max): 17-35% Overall in North Carolina: 22% Years of Data Used: 2009 The rapid and constant rise in cost of healthcare services further increases the dilemma faced by people with low socio-economic status, since it restricts their access to prompt healthcare delivery and medical assistance. The inability to access healthcare can seriously affect population health leading to reduction in worker productivity, and consequently a general inability of the said population to contribute to the economy. There is documented evidence which suggest a strong and direct relationship between social and economic inequality and poor health (Lloyd et al., 2009; Albrecht et al., 2003). A large country like the U.S. which boasts of a wide and diverse composition of social structure, the disparities in healthcare access may lead to a chain of serious negative consequences affecting the healthcare system and the nations economy as well. The economically poor population with disproportionate access to healthcare will further widen the gap between the rich and the poor making it all the more apparent, and threatening the very fabric of a progressive economy. Implication(s) for nursing in delivering patient care on the uninsured population and the impact of this issue on the nursing profession: The American healthcare sector is one of the largest sectors and contributors to the country’s economy. For the successful functioning of any healthcare delivery system, it is of utmost significance to ensure equitable provision of healthcare services across all sections of the population and to eliminate disparities. With nearly a quarter of the countrys population falling under the uninsured category, and an increasingly growing underinsured population, the nursing and other healthcare providers are faced with a highly challenging situation. The rising healthcare costs are further adding to their woes. As a result the nursing staff is made to encounter patients with chronic illnesses but is reluctant to seek medical care due to financial constraints. In order to increase access to healthcare services across various sections of the population, the nursing staff must ensure increased collaboration with social workers and communities (Finkleman, 2011). The nursing profession has immense potential in revolutionizing the system of healthcare delivery and ensuring greater access to healthcare services. Hence it is essential for nurses to address and resolve the key issues such as access to quality care, safety of the patients, and costs of healthcare services, particularly with regard to service provision to vulnerable population groups (Roux and Halstead, 2009). Conclusion: It has been effectively established that there is a direct relationship between economy and provision of healthcare and that the delivery of healthcare services is dependent on and influenced by the interactions between various socio-economic factors. This indicates an urgent need for the adoption and implementation of nationwide policies that seek to eliminate such disparities and ensure equitable access to health care. The United States is home to an increasingly heterogeneous population and in the absence of proper measures, it is likely to continue to be a major factor for disparities in healthcare and insurance. It can be aptly deduced from the above mentioned discussion that the key issue in provision of healthcare in the Untied States is not only the socio-economic disparities but the overt lack of employment opportunities, particular with regard to the vulnerable population group. References: Albrecht, G. L., Fitzatrick, R., Scrimshaw, S., (2003). Handbook of social studies in health and medicine, SAGE Publication, Pp. 127-128 Catalano, R., (2009). Health, medical care, and economic crisis. New England Journal of Medicine. Feb 19; 360 (8): pp. 749-751 Chesnay, M. (2005). Caring for the vulnerable: Perspectives in nursing theory, practice, and research. Jones & Barlett Publication. Feinstein, J. S., (1993). The relationship between socio-economic status and health: A review of the literature. The Milbank Quarterly, 71(2): pp. 279-322 Finkelman, A. W., (2011). Leadership and management for nurses: Core competencies for quality care. 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