Anger at the US Healthcare System Is Growing: Doctors Must Step Up

The High Cost of Health Insurance Claim Denials

The healthcare system in the United States (US) has recently faced serious criticism. In particular, the rising rate at which health insurers deny patients' requests for vital treatments has drawn public anger. As Dr. Tayyeba K. Ali emphasized on 13 January 2025 in a blog post, this system endangers not only patient care but also the moral values of medical professionals.

Only 1 in 3 People Is Satisfied with the Healthcare System

In the US, Gallup conducts one of the surveys measuring satisfaction with the healthcare system. Its annual healthcare reports show how Americans' confidence in and satisfaction with the system have changed over time. For example, according to Gallup's 2021 Health and Healthcare survey, only 36% of Americans expressed a positive view of the healthcare system, a lower proportion than in previous years.

In Türkiye, satisfaction with healthcare services was measured at 68.1% as of 2021. This was lower than satisfaction with transport services (69.8%) and public order services (73.8%). These findings are important for understanding public perceptions of and satisfaction with healthcare services.

Insurance Denials: The Facts in Numbers

The prominent case of UnitedHealthcare illustrates allegations that the company systematically denies patients' treatments, with a reported denial rate of 32%. This is a striking example of the impact insurers can have in the US. Dr. Ali also reported that, over the past 9-12 months, her uveitis clinic experienced a 75% denial rate for access to medicines used to treat eye conditions, further highlighting the severity of the problem.

According to a 2024 Experian Health survey, 73% of healthcare providers said they had observed an increase in denied claims over the previous two years. This represents a 31% increase compared with two years earlier and reinforces healthcare workers' concerns.

Barriers to Accessing Innovative Treatments

These barriers to innovative and expensive treatments directly affect patients' health outcomes, particularly when urgent intervention is needed. Every year, thousands of patients in the US cannot access vital treatments because of their cost.

Why Is Reform Essential?

This situation exposes the problems underlying the US healthcare system: profit-driven approaches and a lack of transparency. Dr. Ali and other healthcare workers are calling for reform to create a fairer system. Reform must bring greater transparency to insurers' decision-making processes and make it easier for patients to access treatment.

Conclusion

Doctors and healthcare workers must take on the task of protecting patients' rights and assume greater responsibility for speaking out about these deep-rooted problems. The time has come to transform the US healthcare system, for the sake of current and future patients as well as everyone working in healthcare.