topic discussion

1. Confidential Customized for Lorem Ipsum LLC Version 1.0
U.S. Healthcare and
How It Needs to Change
Yashaswi Parikh

2. My research topic is...
My research topic is the American healthcare system, and more
specifically, how it needs to be changed to effectively fulfill the
needs of all americans. The biggest issue with the U.S.
healthcare system is outrageous costs that hinder patients from
receiving the care that they need, and doctors from delivering it.
Additionally, these higher costs have not necessarily led to
higher quality coverage for Americans. The best way to go about
improving our healthcare system is to compare and adopt
elements of healthcare systems from other countries that are
efficient in providing quality care to their citizens.

3. History of American Healthcare
The idea of mandating healthcare coverage began as early as the 1900s in the U.S.,
but many middle class Americans were aversive. By the Great Depression era, high
medical costs became a more controversial issue, leading to the creation of Social
Security to give benefits to older citizens. Companies began to give their employees
health insurance to attract more workers, which led to the current concept of
health benefits offered by employers. A bill to universalize healthcare was
introduced at this time but heavily opposed, but later in 1965 Medicare was created,
resulting in greater expenses for the country. In the 1990s, Medicare was expanded
to include children and laws were passed to protect patient privacy. After the
election of President Obama in 2008, the Affordable Care Act was passed to provide
cheaper coverage to more Americans, regardless of pre-existing conditions, but
many Americans today still oppose the idea of “socialized” medicine.

4. Players/Individuals Involved in U.S. Healthcare
● Doctors
○ American doctors are relevant to this topic because medical
professionals deal with a lot of administrative work due to high
insurance costs/claims and universalizing American healthcare would
reduce much of the pressure doctors face.
● Patients (essentially all Americans)
○ American patients are relevant to this topic because changing the U.S.
healthcare system would directly impact the costs and quality of care
that American patients receive.
● U.S government
○ The U.S. government is relevant to this topic because the major
changes required in the U.S. healthcare system would require congress
to pass a law universalizing/reforming healthcare.

5. Questions I Have
1. Why are Americans so against socializing healthcare?
2. What are the current issues with our healthcare system (i.e elements of our
healthcare system that should be changed)?
3. What are the elements from the healthcare systems of other countries that are
effective?
4. How can the United States implement effective changes to improve our
healthcare system?
5. What can each of the involved parties (Americans, doctors, government officials)
do to enact change?

6. A viewpoint on my topic that I disagree with...
I disagree with the idea that if the government owns healthcare, it would result in
poorer quality care or more expensive care. Americans already face skyrocketing
healthcare costs for care of lesser quality, and socializing healthcare would at
least allow ALL Americans to have access to healthcare rather than only some
Americans. It is also horrible that people do not have access to healthcare, when
access to proper healthcare should be a right for all human beings.

7. Bibliography
Manning, Hadley Heath. “Why Socialized Health Care Is Unjust.” The Federalist, FDRLST Media, 19
Feb. 2016, thefederalist.com/2016/02/19/why-socialized-health-care-is-unjust/.
Griffin, Jeff. “The History of Healthcare in America.” Employee Benefits Consultants - JP Griffin
Group, JP Griffin Group, 7 Mar. 2017,
www.griffinbenefits.com/employeebenefitsblog/history_of_healthcare.