Subject Code : IHP600
Assignment Task:

Reflection Journal: Cost/Benefit of Sustaining Life:

One of the most sensitive issues in the healthcare field is the cost of care associated to individuals who are terminally ill, more specifically the cost-benefit of continued care for sustaining life. Patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses can certainly turn to medications, which may treat complications and prolong life, but often these medications are not cheap. 
CBS News wrote an article on the topic on the ongoing expense of healthcare for individuals who have terminal illness and stated that back in 2009, “Medicare paid $50 billion just for doctor and hospital bills during the last two months of patient’ lives – that’s more than the budget of the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Education.” (The Cost of Dying. 2009). As the article outlines, healthcare organizations take advantage of Medicare funding in various ways. Steve Kroft reported that it can cost around $10,000 daily to maintain treatment for a patient in an intensive care unit (ICU), where almost 20 per cent of Americans spend their last days (The Cost of Dying. 2009). Advances in medicine keep terminally ill patients comfortable, reduce complications and symptoms, however, these advances only prolong the inevitable, which is death. The system in place seems to benefit hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and other health care organizations, instead of the patients.

There are benefits that the government does provide to patients that may help reduce the financial burden of medical expenses. An individual diagnosed with a terminal illness can qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, and the Social Security Administration processes requests for terminally ill patients rapidly and with extreme sensitivity. Some medical conditions which are eligible under the Terminal Illness (TERI) program include some forms of aggressive cancer, chronic heart failure, chronic pulmonary failure, and patients awaiting liver, lung, heart, or a bone marrow transplant (Laurence). Retired individuals may receive other forms of fixed income such as a pension, retirement savings, or supplemental income through government programs such as social security.

There are many complex issues and questions which come up when discussing the cost-benefit analysis of extending life. Not all patients may have a steady form of income, and those that do qualify for government programs such as social security and Medicare may have other financial obligations in addition to receiving medical treatment. It is possible that patients may have relatives or family members who rely on their fixed income, so without that income, the patient’s family might incur debt or financial hardship. It is very difficult to make a generalization regarding the cost-benefit analysis of sustaining life because there are many variables which must be considered.

In cases where a patient cannot make a decision themselves, often family members are left to decide whether the patient’s life should be sustained or not. Because of the level of emotion involved with these types of decisions, family members may not understand completely the impact of decisions or may be reluctant to give up hope on the patient. Family members may believe that the patient can or will get better and may decide to sustain life no matter the costs, but this could result in overwhelming financial burden on the family if the patient’s health does not improve or if the patient passes away. Family members may also be dependent on the financial support received from the patient and this could also place a financial burden on the family if the patient passes away. The costs to sustain the patient’s life could very well be way too high for the patient or the patient’s family to incur, and patients who cannot afford it will not receive medical treatment.
 
The ongoing issues of cost-analysis and costs of sustaining life are very sensitive subjects in healthcare, and it is difficult to assess properly because of the number of variables involved. The costs of sustaining life can be very expensive and can place an immense financial strain on patients and their families. The government does provide financial aid to pay for medical treatments and to help reduce the overall financial burden on patients. This sensitive issue is not an easy one to discuss, but it is important for patients and family members to remain strong, hopeful, and to seek help and information to assist them when possible.


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  • Uploaded By : Alex Cerry
  • Posted on : January 30th, 2019

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