The ongoing efforts by Congress to overhaul the nation's health care system have led many to wonder define the key benchmarks of access and quality. What do experts mean when they speak about access to quality care?
Affordability
Lower-income families are often denied access to quality health care.
There are two main perspectives on affordability. According to the Cato Institute, a self-described "market liberal", non-profit public policy research foundation, the free-market approach emphasizes deregulation and tax credits to give consumers greater choice.
According to the Obama/Biden health care plan described on BarackObama.com, the progressive plan would seek to expand coverage and control costs through a national system of mandates and subsidies.
Age and Gender
Denials of coverage for pre-existing conditions
Under the free-market system, insurers would be able to maintain their current practice of charging higher premiums for women and older individuals, unless consumers demanded otherwise. The progressive system would use the power of federal law to abolish this practice, which could shift some of the burden onto taxpayers.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Free-market proponents would continue to allow insurance companies to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, arguing that this helps keep down the cost of premiums for healthy individuals. Progressives would require insurers to offer coverage regardless of the individual's condition.
Outcomes
Lastly, both sides agree on one thing: the quality of health care must be measured through outcomes. These include key indicators of public health such as life expectancy, infant mortality, and survival rates for heart disease and cancer.
Conclusion
Whether you favor a free-market or a progressive health care system, access to quality care is one of the basic social goods---helping all individuals to lead longer, healthier lives.
Tags: health care, access quality, access quality care, care system, coverage pre-existing
