A recent report by the Commonwealth Fund has revealed that the United States health system ranks the lowest among 10 peer nations in terms of health equity, access to care, and outcomes, despite Americans paying nearly double the cost compared to other countries. The report highlights the human toll of these shortcomings, with patients struggling to afford medications and arriving sicker than they should due to lack of insurance.
Both Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump have not proposed major healthcare reforms, with Harris focusing on healthcare as an economic issue and Trump offering vague concepts without concrete proposals. However, voters have identified the cost of healthcare, including drugs, doctors, and insurance, as their top concern.
The Commonwealth Fund’s report compared the US health system to nine wealthy democracies and found that the US ranked last or near the bottom in all areas except for care process. The report suggests that the US needs to expand insurance coverage, reduce the amount of out-of-pocket expenses for patients, simplify insurance plans, invest in primary care and public health, and address social inequities to improve its standing.
Dr. David Blumenthal, a past president of the fund and author of the report, acknowledges that making these changes will not be easy but emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues for the well-being of Americans. As the election approaches, the direction of healthcare reform will depend on the choices made by the American electorate.
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