Health Care Utilization Paper

Class: HCS/235 Health Care Delivery in the U.S.

Option Chosen: 2 John Q

In this paper we will discuss John Q. and Medicaid. John recently moved into a rural community and works a full time job. John is eligible for Medicaid due to his low income and needs to see a doctor since he has high blood pressure and recently his father had a heart attack. He has local doctors but none of them except Medicaid and the closest one he can find is a 40 minute drive away and needs the appointment to be made two weeks in advance. John doesn’t have a vehicle of his own and catches rides to work and relies on public transportation. We will be discussing what factors may affect John’s health care utilization, if the …show more content…

Medicaid has changed over the years, and I speak from personal experience, a person on Medicaid use to be accepted almost everywhere you went. I was never turned away with Medicaid, but when my husband’s jobs insurance took effect, I was denied in many places. It is basically the other way around now. I live in a small town and I travel over 30 minutes to see a primary doctor and two to three hours to see a specialist. I have Medicaid and it is hard to get appointments anymore, and it is just as hard to find a job that provides health coverage.
In John’s case, he may not be able to get a higher paying job, or afford a health insurance plan on his own, but he has medical problems and needs to see a physician on a regular basis. It is sad that John’s community doesn’t have a primary doctor for him in his local area because of his insurance. Medicaid is used by millions and there should be an office that will accept Medicaid in all places. This would mean that more people would be seen and not go untreated because they don’t want to travel or possibly can’t travel. John’s community should put the word out there about transportation that can be provided for people that are seeking medical help and cannot afford public transportation or their own way of transportation. This