Problem identification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Problem identification - Essay Example , which is estimated to be at a record high and reflects the magnitude of health crisis that has befallen the average American citizen in present times (msnbc, 2010). One out of every three adults in the U.S. are either uninsured or underinsured (AAOS.org, 2010). Research suggests that this is one of the most crucial problems facing public policy makers. The people facing such problem are considered to be at a high health risk when faced with a serious illness, and may even face death due to delay in receiving primary care or prompt medical assistance (Hammaker & Tomlinson, 2010). Statistics suggest that there is a significant rise in the cost of health insurance in the current year, which is estimated to be about 9 per cent over the previous year (NYTimes, 2011). This is likely to have a negative impact on the public healthcare system, since most of the people depend upon company sponsored insurance. With the rise in healthcare insurance, coupled with weakening of the economy has led to loss of jobs, and hence rise in number of uninsured people. The poor and uninsured populations mostly depend on the public healthcare system which increases the financial demand on it, thus leading to uneven access to healthcare and poor clinical outcomes (Lundy, Janes, 2009). Currently access to healthcare is highly disparate across various socio-cultural groups. Such setbacks, act as a hindrance to the provision of good quality healthcare services, and restrict the performance of the sector (Williams, 2007). AAOS.org (2010). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Issues facing America - Underinsured patients [Online] Available at: http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/mar08/reimbursement1.asp [Accessed: November 17, 2011] Msnbc, (2010). Number of uninsured Americans hits record high [Online] Available at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39215770/ns/health-health_care/t/number-uninsured-americans-hits-record-high/#.TsFtFfQr2so [Accessed: November 13, 2011] NYTimes (2011). Health