Please read and discuss

[Wirichada Pan-ngum]

There will be the link to the article https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-23/overseas-healthcare-costs
Please read and discuss.(10 marks)

———————–Due Date 15 March 2021 ———————-

[Rawinan Soma]

From my little knowledge, American people have to pay larger amount for healthcare than other country because they do not have health coverage for all people. Only some group of people like employees, elderly with many health conditions, or veteran soldiers have health insurance from central government. Other people must seek their own health insurance. This system originates from individualism and liberalism, they believe health care is goods or services which individual freely choose to access and individually made. Another reason is universal health coverage is the symbol of socialism, it strongly against liberalism. Even thought they have health insurance; some group of people might have to pay some service fees to hospital or pharmacy because of co-payment system. However, universal health coverage is not fit for all country. There are many factors to consider for establishing health coverage or health system. It take time for advantages and disadvantages studies and shaping the health system.

[Wirichada Pan-ngum]

I agreed. UC does not fit for all. It is the balance between self-care/self-health responsibility & affordability VS the government support

[Kridsada Sirichaisit]

This problem of overcharging medical service in US is due to capitalism health system. The capitalism health system will encourage for over-investigation and over-treatment then overall price is very highest. Some country use welfare health system such as Germany in this health system use higher tax rate to funding the system, health purchaser will set standard price. The universal coverage system use tax for funding, the purchaser have many logic to pay for healthcare provider such as per capita, central reimbursement, fee schedule, UC-AE. The overall medical charge in UC will low than the above two system because of all citizens that not have other health insurance are cover by UC then in the private health sector can not set price much as capitalism health system.

[Pongsakorn Sadakorn]

Agree that capitalism is the main factor that influences the healthcare system. You list the good point here. Thank you for sharing.

[Wachirawit Supasa]

The reason that medical cost is so high in the United State of America is that they have not using single-payer system like another developed nation mean that the people have to relied on the private insurance to get medical expense covered. Many typical hospitals in the USA used Master price list or Chargemaster that tell how much each procedure cost, and the insurance company usually negotiate for the lowest price possible that led to hospital overcharge. If the uninsured patient go to hospital, they still have to pay for high amounts as same as insured patient.

The US government tried to solved the problem such as Affordable Care Act or Obamacare that targeted low income population, Medicare or Medicaid from Federal government for low income and elderly people.

Here are some simplified video that describe the problem of healthcare in USA:

[Wirichada Pan-ngum]

Thanks for sharing this fun VDO, sounds helpless with the US health service here. I have been thinking about it the best thing we can do as a person is to keep a good health 🙂

[Sittidech Surasri]

Yes, the best practice of healthcare is begin from yourself and avoid to get the medication.

[Sittidech Surasri]

Thank you for sharing this good VDO and your comment as well.

[Naphat]

Thank you for sharing VDO and great describe this topic krab

[Navinee Kruahong]

I think the problem is not about the money, if higher spending lead to better outcomes. However, that’s not the case in the United States. Despite significantly higher healthcare spending, America’s health outcomes are not any better than those in other developed countries or developing countries. The United States actually performs worse in some common health metrics like life expectancy, infant mortality, and unmanaged diabetes. And yes, like Kridsada mentioned, capitalism health system might lead worse outcomes than other designed health systems.

[Sila Klanklaeo]

The US health care system and its comparison with other countries’ health care systems. Although the quality of treatment is not much different. But the cost is clearly different. The development of the health system of each country Probably depends on politics, the economy, and health care law.

[Pongsakorn Sadakorn]

The cost of treatment in the US is higher than in certain developing countries due to medical overcharge. Universal Coverage may not be a solution for the US because it is not fit for all countries. In my opinion, the main factor that keeps medical overcharge in the US. is the capitalist health system which may lead to a disadvantage in the healthcare system. Moreover, the proper policy is crucial for improving the healthcare system.

[Sittidech Surasri]

After watching the VDO clip of the 2nd topic of this week, read the provided publication about UHC in Thailand and the column: If you want to save money on healthcare, get sick in some other country. In my opinion think that I do agree with comment in the column that the healthcare system in USA is very expensive compare to others South Africa and South Korea and Thailand as well.

In my opinion, I think it depends on the national health service and health insurance system in each country. For the UHC in each country, it might not be included full coverage of health services and may not receive the same services in different health settings. It is also difficult result from the different base of income and payment’ insurance capacity.
From the example of countries like South Africa and South Korea, I think their system is quite successful due to the efficient integration of health insurance system in national health policy and they also allocate the money (with single-payer insurance system) to cover all level of people. Although they are still needed to improve, but it seems that these countries can manage this better than USA. The people from USA seems to pay in huge number for health insurance, nearly half of their income, but can’t access the health service as their expectation. It might be resulted from US’s health policy that include treatment system, check-up/follow up with clinicians, referral system and also cost of drugs in prescription.
In Thailand also, majority of Thai people normally have 30THB (gold card privilege) or social insurance scheme, these systems are quite successful and accessible to most of all level of Thai people. However, these schemes may include just only the government health settings. Thus, some Thai people that need all health coverage to include in private hospitals, need to pay in additional health insurances. More paying, more health coverage. So, you also need to pay more for getting better health life.
This, I do agree with this wording “on the other hand, is bearing huge spending in health care and is in deficits for some years now”. Because it is the challenging issue for many countries that have half-coverage and full-coverage UHC like South Korea and Thailand. The following challenging issues are still remained and need to be improved.
– Increased workload and dissatisfaction of healthcare personnel
– Adverse effects of resource allocation reform
– Financial implications

[Naphat]

I agree with this article because US medical expenses are extremely high compared to other countries, but the quality they are treated with is not different from other countries.

It is not surprise that the private hospital in Thailand has many foreigners come to perform surgical treatment, especially serious diseases with high medical expenses in their country, but they are cheap in our country.
I have a foreign friend whom often comes to Thailand to do dentistry. He told me that he can travel in Thailand and do dentistry together, but if in his country he can only do dentistry or pay more in some cases.

Thailand has a good health insurance system and covers all citizens. Being treated for treatment is equal. The quality of medical care in our country is not inferior to other countries, including medical technology and avaibility.

[Saravalee Suphakarn]

While the facility and efficiency of the health care between the US and South Africa is equivalent, the price that patient have to pay is very different. The problem about the price of US health care, according to the opinion of all participant, is cause from the structure of the system including healthcare insurance, the government policy, tax system etc. Healthcare coverage in US is provided through a combination of private health insurance and public health coverage and US does not have a universal healthcare program, unlike most other developed countries. However, they try to solve the problem by act but it still doesn’t enough.

Health accessibility is one of the most important responsibility of any government that have to provide for all citizen. Although the current system in each country isn’t perfect and has defects, but the structure changing isn’t easy and cause of wide effect. Each country, including Thailand, should do their best to improve the system in the way that proper and suitable to their environment in the country.

[Khaing Zin Zin Htwe]

For the same treatment, US charges much more than any other countries. And also, higher medical expenses do not mean higher life expectancy there according to the statistics. With complex health insurance systems in the US, to my little knowledge, the US government does not control drug prices and charges by healthcare professionals. It’s lack of simpler insurance system and the implemented multiple systems what increase out-of-pocket costs for healthcare. While hospitals are non-profit in Japan, those in the US are profit centers.
Government has the whole responsible to make all of its people to be able to access healthcare without financial burden regardless of the development status of the country.

[Kaung Khant Tin]

According to OECD 2019 health spending data, the US is having the world’s costliest health care. And given that fact, the US still just No.31 on the World Health Organization’s life expectancy. This surely shows that there is something wrong with the health system. The article points out this fact on the ground by comparing the healthcare cost in the US with those in other countries. I, myself, am not familiar with the US health system and why the healthcare in the US is the most expensive one before reading this article. Anyway, obviously, there’s no universal healthcare in the US, and most of the people in the US have to get health insurance one way or the another. So, the heavy burden of out-of-pocket healthcare costs lay on the shoulders of Americans. And its complex healthcare system leads to complexity at the health administrative level which contributes to a higher administrative cost than any other country. The costs for drugs, medical technological devices, medical operations, and human resources are also relatively higher than the other countries. Anyway, as health is a fundamental human right, the US government ought to give much more effort to ensure its people to have access to healthcare at an affordable cost.

[Phone Suu Khaing]

Despite US citizens paying higher prices for same treatment in other developed country, they do not get medical service with higher quality. According to WHO’ life expectancy list, America is No. 31 compared to other developed countries. It is quite clear that there is mismanagement in health system in US. Root cause for high pricing for health care should be sought. Then, policy makers could reverse the situation by solving root causes. US can learn from Korea and Japan as well as Thailand “30 baht treat all diseases” universal health coverage system. US should try best to provide high quality health service with fair price for its citizens before it is too late because health is one of basic fundamental human rights.

[Phone Suu Khaing]

Discussion for US health system
Despite US citizens paying higher prices for same treatment in other developed country, they do not get medical service with higher quality. According to WHO’ life expectancy list, America is No. 31 compared to other developed countries. It is quite clear that there is mismanagement in health system in US. Root cause for high pricing for health care should be sought. Then, policy makers could reverse the situation by solving root causes. US can learn from Korea and Japan as well as Thailand “30 baht treat all diseases” universal health coverage system. US should try best to provide high quality health service with fair price for its citizens before it is too late because health is one of basic fundamental human rights.

[Phone Suu Khaing]

Despite US citizens paying higher prices for same treatment in other developed country, they do not get medical service with higher quality. According to WHO’s life expectancy list, America is No. 31 compared to other developed countries. It is quite clear that there mismanagement in health system in US. Root cause for high pricing of health care should be sought. Then, policy makers could reverse the situation by solving root causes. US can learn from Korea and Japan as well as Thailand “30 baht treat all diseases” universal health coverage system. US should try best to provide high quality health service with fair price for its citizens before it is too late because health is one of the basic fundamental human rights.

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