Wonder if the uninsured in the US is just the start of the looming health-care crisis? The demand may have lessened:
The U.S. Census Bureau this week reported the number of Americans without health insurance fell last year to 45.7 million, down from the previous estimate of 47 million. Good news for sure, but of little comfort to those families and individuals still without coverage.
But what of the supply?
There is already a dire need for more physicians in this country…[t]he American Medical Association says 35,000 doctors per year reach retirement age while U.S. medical schools only graduate 8,000 new doctors annually in replacement. The problem is exacerbated by a growing sense of discontent among younger physicians, driving them out of the profession…because of high stress, increasing administrative burdens, skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs, and the constant threat of lawsuits[.]
Universal healthcare may provide all the chairs needed, but in this game of musical chairs—no one wins.