A new report from The Commonwealth Fund reveals that the health system in the U.S. is failing compared to other developed nations. The U.S. ranks last in areas such as preventing deaths, access to care, and ensuring quality treatment for all. Despite spending the most on healthcare, the U.S. has the lowest life expectancy and the highest rates of preventable deaths among the countries studied.
Voters in the upcoming presidential election have identified healthcare as a top priority. Vice President Kamala Harris has proposed building on the Affordable Care Act, while former President Donald Trump has provided little detail on his healthcare vision. The U.S. healthcare system lacks efficiency, with a complex network of insurers leading to denial of services and high administrative costs.
Lower-income individuals often cannot afford essential care, leading to disparities in access and outcomes. Many vulnerable populations, including racial minorities and those with low incomes, lack insurance coverage or face high out-of-pocket costs, resulting in delayed or avoided care. The report suggests that implementing universal healthcare coverage could help address these disparities and improve health outcomes in the U.S.
The report offers solutions to improve the U.S. healthcare system, including reducing the cost of care and expanding access to coverage. While the U.S. has consistently ranked poorly in previous reports, there are opportunities for positive change to address the shortcomings highlighted in the international analysis.
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