Falex
According to Falex (2011),a policy refers to a decisional statement pointed to a certain goal in health care. Falex also implies that a policy includes the plans that should be undertaken to achieve that particular goal. A health policy determines the values and priorities underlying a certain resource’s allocation. In the United States policies demand cooperation and coordination amongst stake holders and agents to ensure that quality health services are delivered to US residents. The current healthcare policies are meant to cover sections of individuals. These individuals are mainly those with employment as well as the elderly. There is no policy that covers all citizens, irrespective of their financial capabilities. In other words, there is no universal healthcare policy in America. What is more, the providers of healthcare are in the private sector, and take advantage of the absence of a public healthcare regime to inflate the cost of healthcare provision to the detriment of those who cannot afford it.
Discussions are revolving around the challenge that evoke a variety of controversial sentiments, with the supporters of the healthcare providers claiming that introducing universal healthcare is tantamount to socializing healthcare. On the other hand, the sympathizers of the services recipients demand for a system that reduces the cost of services while at the same time provides quality healthcare. But according to Sultz and Young (2010), one clear point is that the current healthcare regime does not inculcate any protective measures for the unemployed and uninsured.
The Medicare Program
The Medicare program established in 1965 covers the elderly citizens who are above the age of 65 as well as younger citizens who have special conditions specified in the Medicare program. This does not cover all classes of individuals. The other existing program is the Medicaid program, which was meant to cater the financially incapable, besides other classes of persons. Though it does assist in covering members who have been certified to be poor, it is not a universal healthcare program. Being poor alone does not render you qualified to join the program. The two programs so far represent the existing policies that have been advanced in the provision of healthcare in the country.