Indiana's Health Challenges

Having been a resident of Indiana my entire life, I am well acquainted with the healthcare system in the state. I have been a lifelong patient of the healthcare system, as I have had multiple health issues during my life. I have spent plenty of time in hospitals and doctors’ offices and have been on more medications than I can remember. From my experiences and my knowledge of the healthcare system, I would say that the greatest health challenge currently facing Indiana is poor access due to cost.

Access prevented due to cost is not a problem that effects only Indiana, it effects the entire nation as well. Even with insurance, out of pocket healthcare costs for even one person can be tens of thousands of dollars. These costs keep many from even seeking care in the first place. Potential patients will avoid going to the doctor for check-ups or to get something as simple as a flu shot, because it is known and accepted that healthcare is expensive. The population does not seek preventative care because of this, and their health suffers until they reach a point when critical care is needed. The cost of preventative care has gotten better in recent years with the ACA and other health legislation that has been passed, making preventative care relatively more affordable. There could have been greater initiative taken to make this a better known fact and to provide easier access to those who live in health deserts.

There are still many areas in Indianapolis that do not have easy access to an affordable neighborhood health clinic. The burden of cost is most severe for individuals with chronic illnesses, diseases that require regular scans, tests and medications for treatment or monitoring. A single scan can cost over $5,000. It is no longer necessarily financially viable to go to the nearest hospital or physician’s practice when your doctor writes an order for you to receive an X-ray or an MRI. When I am sick and my doctor orders a CT scan or imaging test, I spend hours searching for the cheapest test provider in my region. Sometimes I drive twenty or more miles away just for a simple fifteen minute scan. For those on prescription medications, the costs are also astronomical. This is certainly true not only in Indiana, but all over the nation and the world. Drug manufacturers essentially have full control of the price of their product until a certain amount of time has passed and that drug is allowed to be manufactured as a generic. For those who require medications to live or lead somewhat normal lives, there is no choice, they have to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars per month for their medicines. While pharmaceutical companies are a business, and should be allowed to profit, there needs to be more of a balance between profit and affordability for the sake of better health outcomes for the population. There are many challenges to health in Indiana, but one that has a hand in affecting nearly every other challenge in some way, big or small, is access prevented due to cost. Many find out about deadly diseases such as heart disease too late because they never go to their primary care physician for fear of the bill. If the fear of going into debt because of medical bills was no longer an issue, more people would feel free to access the healthcare that they have available and would likely begin to take a more proactive role in promoting their personal health and well-being.