Health, Wellness and Wellbeing

Abstract

A population’s health is contributed to by many factors outside of the clinical setting. American literature and research are asserting the Social Determinants of Health, while terms like wellness and wellbeing are also important. The discourse between wellness and wellbeing show they are both components of health, but wellbeing relates to subjective happiness. The United States health care system spends a lot of money, compared to other countries, showing a skewed allocation of resources. As the United States recognizes a broader definition of health to include wellness and wellbeing, national health promotion and legislation represent this. Policies concerning wellness and health prevention are of particular importance in legislation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, for example. The focus of American health policy cannot, however, turn away from the more fundamental problem that there are many Americans without health insurance who are unable to get or pay for the clinical care they need. In moving policy forward, more quantitative information and political dedication would help wellness and wellbeing along with health care come onto the health policy agenda.