The State of Health in Ohio

If there is one aspect of Ohio's health that is under scrutiny at this point, it is the the expensive state of health—Ohio's health care system. A recently conducted survey revealed that many residents of Ohio are not satisfied with the health care services in their area and they are demanding for reforms.

In a study conducted by the Akron Beacon-Journal disclosed that in spite of the much allocation of budget and expenses on Ohio’s health care, these are deemed paling in comparison to Ontario on a “number of public health indicators (Source: “Health-care matchup finds Ohio falls short,” Akron Beacon-Journal, July 20, 2008).”

You may wonder why of all the places and demographics, Ontario was chosen as comparison to Ohio. The answer, according to reports, indicated that because Ontario is similar to Ohio with respect to its “population size, educational attainment, median age, jobs, and salaries (“Healthcare matchup”).”

Based on the results of the study, the life expectancy and the cost of health care per person each year in Ontario is longer and lower comparison to Ohio, respectively (“Healthcare matchup”).

This may be an additional explanation why many Ohio residents are asking for overhaul in the health care programs of their state. In fact, staunch supporters of health care reform are within the age demographic of 18-64 (Binette and Dinger).

Based on another study conducted, this time by the AARP Ohio State Office, it revealed that health care is at the forefront of many of the residents’ minds. A telephone survey of 800 randomly selected Ohio residents between the ages of 18 and 64 was taken (Binette and Dinger). Studies disclosed the following facts:

The residents believe that the health care system in Ohio needs an overhaul. Studies showed that almost seven out of ten residents between the age of 18 and 64 believe that “Ohio is in a state of crisis or has major problems with health care (Binette and Dinger).” Nineteen percent of the adults were uninsured at the time the survey was taken yet 83 percent of the respondents emphasized the need for the state government to work in the reduction of the number of those uninsured in the Ohio area (Binette and Dinger).

Adults in Ohio are concerned about future health care costs. A third of the residents in Ohio between the ages of 18 and 64 are “either not at all confident or not very confident that they will be able to maintain their current level of health care coverage in the next five years (Binette and Dinger).” This is an indication that while residents are exerting efforts to pay their regular health care, it is becoming a burden on their backs. Prevention ought to be more affordable than the cure yet the residents are not feeling this advantage. It was also the observation of seven out of ten respondents that the rising cost of health care is a “major problem for the state (Binette and Dinger).”

Access and affordability of health care are top priorities for legislation. Nine out of ten respondents placed stressed that Ohio should make health care “more affordable for all residents,” while 82 percent of the respondents demand that all Ohio residents “should have access to affordable, quality health care coverage (Binette and Dinger).” Two-thirds of the respondents claim that they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports reformation of the health care system as well as making it more affordable and accessible (Binette and Dinger).

The state of health in Ohio is indeed expensive at the moment. If policymakers and state officials are really concerned in the welfare of their constituents, they would pay attention to this poll and make the necessary reforms, in order to get Ohio back in better shape.

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