Research Paper Reflection

     In the beginning, when I first found out that we had to write a research paper on any health topic of our choice, I was somewhat excited about the broad variety of topics that we could choose from, but hesitant as well about how detailed the papers would be. Immediately, I decided to write about a health issue that I had known about previously, from either a personal family encounter or just from previous research that I had been able to do on my own time.
     Choosing to write about Alzheimer's became much more difficult than I had anticipated. When I wrote my draft, I hadn't yet gotten to much about the political aspects of Alzheimer's disease and its treatments, so there were a lot of changes that needed to be made to ensure that I had gotten at least a C or higher on the paper. When it came down to me actually finding resourceful information that could help me with this part of the paper, there wasn't much that I could find, but I did what I could to correct my previous mistakes, by deleting and adding information. Overall, I am pleased with the grade I received.

Bradfield: 6-10

     Closing the chapters of this book, Brasfield, again, touches basis on a few topics that are very eye opening to his audience. Abortion is something that most individuals choose to leave to politicians to discuss in a political setting only, but Brasfield takes no time to discuss the topic in his book. The Hyde Amendment currently stands as a means of federal funding not being able to go towards abortions. This amendment, alone, triggers a lot within my mind, because we never know why a woman is seeking an abortion- not knowing how she got pregnant to being with. Other clauses like the Afordable Care Act were not mentioned in this book, but the Stupak Amendment, which provides officials to provide coverage for abortions are not able to offer a public opinion or option, was spoken upon by Brasfield. 

     In addition, The United States, is known as one of the largest countries, spending the most money on healthcare, yet having poor healthcare outcomes. This means, that a lot of the things we fund in order to help provide healthcare for ourselves and family members, does not match with how well things turn out in the end. Knowing that our money is being spent in large amounts so that we can try to help ourselves, is questionable when the funds dont match the delivery of care we are given. Why be a part of something that cost more with a poor outcome, (The United States), when you can be a part of something that cost lost with great patient satisfaction (other countries like Canada)?

Brasfield: 3-5

     Brasfield makes very valid points in the third, fourth, and fifth chapters of this book. With a growing generation of people getting sicker, with diabetes, cancer, and obesity, it is hard to lower the cost of healthcare. These illnesses greatly affect a lot of people at young ages, and as we grow older, cost increase in contrast. Medicare, which is used to help fund healthcare for the elderly, is currently at a place of decreasing. If people of our generation are becoming more and more sick with things that are becoming common, but are at high risk in health, it is very hard to say that we will still have Medicare once we are able to receive it ourselves. What changes will the government be able to make in order to keep Medicare around for decades to come? Tax! The more money taken out of individuals paychecks, the more funding can be brought forth for medical insurance to those who are in need of it.

Brasfield: Ch.1-2

Health insurance is one thing that we as Americans and Foreigners all need. As stated in previous blogs, we understand that cost of receiving health care benefits is expensive without being insured. Brasfield brings a very logical situation to my attention during the first two chapters of his book, Health Policy: The Decade Ahead, that had never settled with me before. 
     The fact that individuals without health insurance are more unhealthy than those who do have health insurance is one interesting fact that caught my attention, while reading this book. When people have less access to health care, the chances of them being healthy is very unlikely. Having health care providers readily accessible to you, it is easier to go to the doctor when you are feeling ill, instead of ignoring symptoms that could potentially to fatal to one's health.
     This takes me back to how my uncle is an uninsured individual, who needs to go to the emergency room from time to time because he is in poor health, but cannot afford to see a doctor or physician whenever he would like to. If we, as a country, were able to help insure all of our people, yes, taxes would definitely increase, but being able to help provide for someone else could possibly be worth, where we are as a country. 

Altman: Pt. 4-Epilogue

     Power, Politics, and Universal Health Care, information was again reinforced from prior parts of the book. One thing that I did enjoy about the reading, overall, is that it is an updated book that gives information for things that are currently going on in our health care system. Implementing facts about the bills that our current president, Barack Obama, has tried to enforce on our systems, allowed me to better open up to the reading and its information. A lot of individuals feel as though, the President's title of running the country, gives him the authority to pass any laws are bills that he would like to see put to use within our country, but as this portion of the book tells us, this is not true. With the help of different branches, laws are either passed or vetoed due to the "opinions" of other executives. Personally, this gave me better insight on the political side of health care and how we, the people, are handled. Despite me gaining further knowledge, I still do not believe that things will change any time soon. Understanding that the political system with how laws work has been put in action, for decades prior to the terms that Barack Obama has served, it will be hard for the United States, as a whole, to be on the same page with how things should and should not be run, with so many different opinions. 

Altman: Pt. 2-3

     As continued from the first post, regarding this book, more political views in relation to pros and cons of the health care system are discussed. I always thought that finding the expected cost a person's medical bill was something hard to configure, based upon labor of the health care professions and the tools that would be used during the said procedure. Yet, in reality, the calculations of this is really based off on where we are a society today, and our age.
      Most young people, do not have a large history of medical records, which attracts health providers that seek to give them a lower co-payment if they were to end up in a hospital for whatever reason. Because of where we are as a country in relation to health insurance, a lot of elderly people are either not covered, or are covered with payments that are high, based off their previous medical records that show that they have had an abundance of complications.
     In order to change this problem, Medicare has been implemented into our health care system, as well as that of thoughts of equal coverage for all citizens for the United States. The con to ensuring that every one is treated equally in the health care system, is that insurance would have to be paid through federal taxes, which means the cost of taxes, and what working individuals give to the government, will increase significantly. There are simply not enough people working in our country, therefore not every pays taxes- to the contrasting fact that everyone needs medical attention at some point in their life, and it must be payed for, in some form.

Altman: Pt. 1

     Altman brings forth several issues regarding the health care system and its downfalls as to helping a widespread number of individuals. In the last blog that I wrote, I stated that a more efficient and beneficial form of healthcare would take place if the government found a way to please everyone, but Altman quickly gave me another view on this statement.
     As we all know, no two individuals think exactly the same, therefore not everyone views any same situation in a parallel manner, nor do we always agree with the opinions of others. Altman states how several political groups and politicians have tried to create a widespread insurance plan to cover everyone the best way possible, later realizing that the more people are covered, the more taxes will rise for working individuals, (which we discussed in class).
     With three groups of people in our country, (upper, middle, and lower class), two different genders, and an abundances of races, it is very hard for any to determine the best way for everyone to be treated in the same manner. To target the largest affect group of American's would be the most logical thing to do in a situation regarding so many people with different behaviors, backgrounds, and ethnicities, realizing that not everyone will nor can be satisfied under such circumstances.