The United States has long been at the forefront of medical advancements, yet its healthcare system remains one of the most expensive and least accessible among developed nations
In 2023, healthcare spending reached $4.9 trillion, making up 17.6% of the country’s GDP.
Despite this investment, millions of Americans continue to face challenges in affordability and access, sparking a long-running debate: Is healthcare a public necessity, or an economic industry driven by profit?
Unlike many nations that operate under universal healthcare systems, the U.S. relies on a hybrid model, where public programs like Medicare and Medicaid cover 48% of spending, while private insurance and out-of-pocket costs make up the rest. While this structure provides flexibility, it has also led to rising costs, disparities in care, and financial strain on individuals.
With every presidential election, healthcare reform takes center stage. Policies have been introduced, debated, and adjusted—but has the system truly changed?
The Influence of Insurance Companies
At the heart of the U.S. healthcare system lies the private insurance industry, which plays a defining role in coverage, pricing, and accessibility.
Major companies such as UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, and Anthem generate hundreds of billions in annual revenue, shaping the system through pricing structures and lobbying efforts.
UnitedHealth Group alone has spent over $30 million in lobbying during recent election cycles, influencing policy decisions. Critics argue that this level of corporate involvement blurs the line between healthcare as a service and healthcare as a business, often making affordability a secondary concern.
When Healthcare Becomes an Industry
Once driven by nonprofit institutions, the U.S. healthcare system has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry, where treatment costs can fluctuate dramatically based on location, hospital policies, and corporate pricing strategies.
Consider Jeffrey Kivi, a high school teacher who relied on Remicade infusions to treat an autoimmune condition. Initially, his treatment cost $19,000 per month, but after his doctor switched hospitals, the price surged to $132,000 per month—a reflection of hospital fees, patents, and market dynamics.
His case, detailed in Elisabeth Rosenthal’s book An American Sickness, is not an isolated one. Similar cost-cutting measures have been introduced by insurance companies, sometimes sparking backlash. Anthem Blue Cross once proposed limiting anesthesia coverage based on surgery duration, a policy that raised concerns about patient safety before it was eventually withdrawn.
While the healthcare sector generates significant revenue, the question remains: Are resources being allocated in ways that genuinely improve patient care?
The Global Perspective: Spending vs. Outcomes
A recent study by The Commonwealth Fund, Mirror, Mirror 2024, ranks the U.S. lower than many developed nations in key healthcare indicators:
Life expectancy in the U.S. remains below the average of peer countries.
Preventable deaths occur at higher rates than in comparable nations.
Healthcare costs continue to far exceed those of countries with universal coverage.
Meanwhile, countries like the Netherlands, Australia, and the U.K. achieve better health outcomes at lower costs, prompting ongoing discussions about whether the U.S. should rethink its approach.
At the same time, U.S. health insurance companies contribute over $100 billion in corporate taxes annually, leading to debates on whether such revenues should be redirected toward affordability and accessibility efforts.
Critics also point to broader budget priorities, as the U.S. allocates over $800 billion annually to its military. This has fueled discussions on whether a rebalancing of national spending could better support domestic healthcare initiatives.
The Future of Healthcare: Reform or Status Quo?
The structure of U.S. healthcare continues to evolve, yet the fundamental issues of cost and accessibility remain unresolved.
Newly elected President Donald Trump has introduced proposals focused on reducing drug prices and increasing transparency, though their long-term impact remains to be seen.
As policymakers debate cost controls, corporate influence, and national spending priorities, the central question persists: Health or wealth?
The balance between economic interests and patient care will define the future of healthcare in America.
Adidas and Puma are expected to raise prices in the U.S. after Nike increased footwear costs, as rising import tariffs push up expenses across the sportswear industry.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil expressed hope that the G7 will issue a joint communique supporting Ukraine, despite tensions with the US over wording related to the conflict with Russia. Talks also continue on trade issues and sanctions.
Donald Trump’s flagship bill has passed the House. It promises tax cuts, military spending, and deep cuts to social programmes. The price: $2.4 trillion added to the U.S. debt.
Iran has issued a sharp warning to Israel and the United States, threatening to take unspecified "special measures" to defend its nuclear facilities if threatened, just ahead of a new round of nuclear talks in Rome.
Two staff members from the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.- Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were shot and killed on Wednesday night by a lone gunman as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, close to the White House.
Baku hosted the 6th plenary meeting of the UN’s GlobE Network, gathering anti-corruption officials from 92 countries to strengthen global cooperation and chart the network’s next steps.
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy aides in Washington has been charged with first-degree murder, the U.S. Justice Department confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the fatal shooting of two embassy staffers in Washington as a vile act of antisemitic violence, intensifying fears of growing hostility toward Israelis abroad amid mounting global tensions.
G7 finance leaders meeting in Canada pledged to tackle global imbalances and suggested tougher sanctions on Russia, while also taking aim at unfair economic practices widely attributed to China.
A tragic plane crash early Thursday morning shook a quiet residential neighborhood in San Diego, California. According to officials, there are two dead, eight injured.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
AnewZ and Kazakhstan’s Jibek Joly/Silk Way TV channel co-hosted a special AnewZ Talks in Astana at Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU), uniting global experts and young leaders at Silk Road Media Group’s journalism school to explore the growing intersection of media and diplomacy.
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
The Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025, scheduled for May 18–19, will host 200 international guests, including 40 current and former European officials.
Meta has signed another major solar energy agreement, acquiring 650 megawatts (MW) of clean power capacity across Kansas and Texas to support the rapid expansion of its AI-driven data centers, the company confirmed Thursday.
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Thursday that tariffs were a key point of discussion during the G7 finance ministers’ meeting, despite the issue being omitted from the final communique.
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy aides in Washington has been charged with first-degree murder, the U.S. Justice Department confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the fatal shooting of two embassy staffers in Washington as a vile act of antisemitic violence, intensifying fears of growing hostility toward Israelis abroad amid mounting global tensions.
A tragic plane crash early Thursday morning shook a quiet residential neighborhood in San Diego, California. According to officials, there are two dead, eight injured.
Baku hosted the 6th plenary meeting of the UN’s GlobE Network, gathering anti-corruption officials from 92 countries to strengthen global cooperation and chart the network’s next steps.
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy aides in Washington has been charged with first-degree murder, the U.S. Justice Department confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the fatal shooting of two embassy staffers in Washington as a vile act of antisemitic violence, intensifying fears of growing hostility toward Israelis abroad amid mounting global tensions.
G7 finance leaders meeting in Canada pledged to tackle global imbalances and suggested tougher sanctions on Russia, while also taking aim at unfair economic practices widely attributed to China.
A tragic plane crash early Thursday morning shook a quiet residential neighborhood in San Diego, California. According to officials, there are two dead, eight injured.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment