Summary of Health Care System Issues

High Costs of Medical Procedures

• Transplant costs over $4 million for patients.
• Challenge of affording medical bills without insurance.
• Growing numbness to high medical expenses.

Fundraising for Medical Expenses

• In 2017, 1/3 of funds raised on GoFundMe were for medical campaigns.
• GoFundMe raises $650,000/year for 250,000+ medical campaigns.

Case Study: Luca

• Born with Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia and Hirschsprung's Disease.
• Underwent several surgeries including colon surgery and a lung transplant.
• Parents relied on fundraising to manage medical bills.

Evolution of the U.S. Health Care System

• Shift from philanthropy to a multi-billion dollar industry.
• Tug of war among physicians, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies.
• Patients caught in the middle, often unable to access desired care due to costs.
• Increasing number of uninsured Americans seeking treatment abroad.

Historical Context

• Post-World War II surge in demand for health insurance.
• Rise of for-profit health insurance companies (e.g., Aetna, Cigna).
• Introduction of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.

Pricing and Billing System

• Complexity of medical billing leads to long bills.
• Unbundling of services results in multiple charges for individual procedures.
• Billing codes often prioritize profit over patient care.

Role of Pharmaceuticals

• Dramatic drug price increases seen in recent years.
• Pharmaceutical companies justify high prices with R&D costs.
• Lack of regulation allows monopolies on necessary drugs.

Impact of Medical Emergencies

• Patients often can't negotiate costs during emergencies.
• Confusion around insurance plans can lead to multiple bills for a single visit.

Current State of Uninsurance

• Nearly 30 million Americans are uninsured.
• Down from 55 million in 2010 due to the Affordable Care Act.

Inequalities in Health Care

• High costs exacerbate inequality, leading to potential bankruptcy for middle-class individuals.
• Government currently spending over $1 trillion on health care; costs expected to double in the next decade.

Possible Solutions

• Need for greater transparency in health care pricing.
• Consideration of government manufacturing for essential drugs to lower costs.

Personal Impact

• Concerns for Luca's future health, including potential need for a second lung transplant.