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American Health Care in Crisis: Fundamentals of Health Care Reform

Abstract

The American Health Care system costs too much and is unsustainable. In 2008 the United States Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $14.29 trillion and health expenditure was $2.38 trillion or 16.2 %.2 From 1965 to 2007, health spending as a percent of GDP has steadily increased from 5.9% to the current 16.2%. It is inequitably distributed, leaving a significant portion of the population inadequately covered. When looked at in totality, the United States Health care system still lags by a wide measure on key population-level outcome measures in comparison to other developed countries. Proposals for reform include universal health care coverage, universal coverage, cost control measures, insurance market reform, quality improvement measures, and promotion of fitness and wellness.