Based on what I have so far, what direction do you think I should go--what do you feel the thesis is about?

This will eventually end up 10 pages long. I am concerned that I will not find enough to write about. The assignment is, "What, if anything, is significant about an issue,- expressed in a claim."

During the last century, the average life span of Americans nearly doubled, from 49 years in 1900 to nearly 80 years in 2000. Increased life expectancy and advances in U.S. healthcare means that Americans now live longer, but with increased chronic illness at the end of life. More than one-third of the population is uninsured, unstably insured, or underinsured. Gaps in coverage and high out-of-pocket costs hinder patients' access to care; indeed, surveys show that Americans are much more likely than residents of other nations to forgo doctors' visits, fail to fill prescriptions, or skip recommended follow-up care due to cost. Forgoing preventive or timely care can exacerbate health problems and lead to preventable suffering or even death—and much more expensive treatment down the road. There are also significant lapses in safety, with as many as 98,000 Americans dying from medical errors each year. There is evidence that patients receive only 55 percent of recommended care. Inefficiencies, such as duplication and use of unnecessary services, are costly and compromise the quality of care.
Innovative ways to improve health care system performance are being explored which include disease management, care coordination, the use of health information technology, and pay-for-performance incentives. Such strategies can move the U.S. toward a system that commits fewer errors, improves health, and is accessible to all. Today we are living longer, healthier lives than ever before, putting a strain on the U.S. health care system that is mainly designed to provide treatment and preventative medicine. The prolonged and escalating cost of treating illness at the end of life raises an issue that few Americans have been willing to confront: The value of giving expensive new treatments to people whose life expectancy is drastically limited, even with the treatment. Prolonging life in these situations presents a moral and ethical dilemma for the medical profession and the family of the afflicted individual. On the one hand is the emotion of hope for recovery of useful function in a situation where the science of prognosis is imperfect and based to a certain extent on probability analysis, and on the other hand is the reality that physical death is imminent without life-support measures. A new study suggests that too, few U.S. doctors receive formal training in end-of-life care, and as result, according to the researchers: too many terminally ill patients are receiving painful or ineffective treatments that do nothing to enhance their lives.

I think you need to focus on one of the elements: your direction so far is indeterminate.
What about just focusing on the number of elderly who have no means for health or other care?
Or about comparing the US health care for the elderly to other western nations?
Or options of end of life care?

As it is now, it is difficult to see what your point is....at least for me.

Based on the information provided, it seems like your thesis could focus on the issue of gaps in health care coverage and access for Americans, particularly among the elderly population. This is supported by the mention of the high percentage of uninsured, unstably insured, or underinsured individuals, as well as the fact that Americans are more likely to forgo medical care due to cost compared to residents of other nations.

To further develop your thesis, you could explore the significance of this issue in terms of its impact on overall health outcomes, quality of care, and potential preventable suffering or death. Additionally, you could discuss the financial implications of forgoing preventive or timely care, including the increased costs of treatment in the long run.

You could also touch upon the lapses in safety and medical errors, as well as the inefficiencies and unnecessary services that contribute to compromised care and increased healthcare costs.

In terms of a clear direction, you can consider narrowing down your focus to one aspect of the issue, such as exploring solutions or innovative strategies being explored to improve the performance of the healthcare system, like disease management, care coordination, health information technology, or pay-for-performance incentives. Alternatively, you could delve into the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by the medical profession and families when it comes to end-of-life care and expensive treatments for individuals with limited life expectancy.

It's important to thoroughly research each potential direction to gather sufficient information and evidence to support your thesis. Additionally, it may be helpful to consult with your instructor or peers to gain additional insights and perspectives on the topic.