Problem:
In the U.S., the healthcare industry is privatized. American citizens are not guaranteed healthcare through the government Instead, they can purchase health insurance coverage from an insurance company, or it can be awarded to them through their employment. If they qualify for Medicare (assistance for senior citizens) or Medicaid (assistance for low-income individuals and families), which are funded by taxes, they are given a healthcare package, but they may have to pay for partial coverage. Members of the military are also guaranteed healthcare. The U.S. is the only developed country where an individual is legally allowed to be uninsured. One-half of Americans are insured through their employer. In this case, the employer will pay a large portion of coverage.
Italy, like every developed country in the world except the U.S., offers universal healthcare for all citizens. Italians Servizio Sanitario Nazionale )the Italian National Service for Health) considers healthcare a human right. Hospitals are funded with tax revenue, and each region is responsible for fund distribution. While healthcare systems are organized differently in each region, every citizen is guaranteed basic healthcare to over livelli essenziali di assistenza (essential levels of care). Many treatments require a small co-payment from the patient, but the cost is low.
The Italian healthcare system is considered to be one of the best in the world. It is a universal healthcare system that provides free or low-cost medical care to all Italian citizens and residents. The Italian healthcare system is funded by taxes and is run by the Ministry of Health. The system is decentralized, with each region responsible for managing its own healthcare services12.
In the United States, older citizens are eligible for Medicare, which is a federal health insurance program that provides coverage for people over 65 years old and those with certain disabilities. Medicare covers many medical services, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs3.
It's difficult to compare the two systems directly because they are so different. However, some advantages of the Italian healthcare system include lower costs, better access to care, and better health outcomes1.
Some advantages of the US healthcare system for older citizens include Medicare coverage for people over 65 years old and those with certain disabilities. Medicare covers many medical services, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs1.
According to an article on lifeinitaly.com, life expectancy in Italy is 4 years higher than in the US (83 to 79) and the diffusion and care for specific pathologies is virtually the same in the two countries. However, healthcare is more expensive in the US than in Italy. Doctors and nurses are paid much higher salaries in the US than in Italy2. The healthcare system of Italy is quite different from the U.S. Italy has a public-based system supported by tax income as well as a flourishing private insurance market, which is often chosen by Italians as a sort of top-up to the standard public "mutua". The percentage of adults aged 65 and over in Italy using home care services is just 1% which is extremely low compared to other countries.
There are many different opinions on what should be changed in the US healthcare system. Some people believe that the system should be more focused on preventative care, while others believe that the system should be more focused on treating illnesses and injuries. Some people believe that the system should be more affordable and accessible to everyone, while others believe that the system should be more privatized and market-driven.
What are the advantages or disadvantages to how our health care system serves its older citizens compared to the country you have chosen?
Which system would you change and why.
What would you recommend to improve it?
Demonstrate knowledge and use of concepts of healthcare system in the United States and the selected country.
Demonstrate knowledge and use of the health needs of older adults.
Apply social work values to the problem and/or population and how they may differ from policymakers or other stakeholders.
Demonstrate knowledge and use of concepts learned from of relevant academic and professional source materials. Only scholarly sources, i.e., peer-reviewed publications, government reports, should be used in this paper.
Adherence to assignment instructions.
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