The debate on the implementation of universal healthcare in America has been ongoing for decades. Universal healthcare refers to a healthcare system where all citizens, regardless of their socio-economic status, can access healthcare services without financial constraints. In America, the lack of access to healthcare services is a major concern with over 29 million Americans without health insurance. This essay will explore the need for universal healthcare in America and the challenges that such a system would face. The current healthcare system in America is based on a private and market-oriented approach. It is a complex system, and access to health care is determined by one’s ability to pay. This system leaves many Americans uninsured …show more content…
The implementation of universal healthcare ensures that no American would avoid seeking medical attention due to financial constraints. It would improve life expectancy, reduce infant mortality rates, and enhance overall population health. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that the implementation of a single-payer system could save up to $450 billion annually while providing comprehensive coverage to all Americans. However, implementing universal healthcare in America poses significant challenges. Firstly, the cost of financing a universal healthcare system would be enormous. According to a report by the Congressional Budget Office, the implementation of a single-payer system would require an estimated $32 trillion over a ten-year period. This would necessitate an increase in taxes, which may not be favorable to all Americans. Moreover, the implementation of a universal healthcare system would require significant structural changes in the current healthcare system, which could be challenging to …show more content…
(2018). Key design components and considerations for establishing a single-payer health care system. Retrieved from https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/115th- congress-2017-2018/reports/53826-singlepayer.pdf National Center for Health Statistics. (2020). Early release of health insurance coverage estimates for 2019. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2020/20200528.htm Oberlander, J. (2017). The prospects for ‘universal coverage’ in the United States: Will Republicans make millions uninsured again? Health Affairs, 36(6), 982–987. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0259 Pollin, R., Heintz, J., & Arno, P. (2018). Economic analysis of the Medicare for All Act of 2017. Retrieved from https://www.peri.umass.edu/publication/item/1127-economic-analysis-of-the-medicare-for-all-act-of-2017 Woolhandler, S., Himmelstein, D. U., & Zarrabi, A. (2020). Single payer FAQ. Retrieved from
The nature of the current debate surrounding the implementation of universal healthcare in America is troubling because it is comprised almost entirely of pragmatic arguments void of concern for the principles behind the project. Before one asks how much a thing will cost, how it will be organized, or whether “the uninsured” will benefit, one should ask whether enacting universal healthcare is in keeping with the values and principles of the American experiment. In other words, is universal healthcare good for America? Universal healthcare is not good for America.
Additionally, the premiums are regarded by individuals in the low socio-economic background as an extra expense that should be avoided; this has motivated many people in the society to neglect the existence of insurance companies. Currently, a significant population in the United States, especially those in the self-employed sector does not pay premiums to uses the services of medical insurance companies. The universal health care program, however, will eliminate the issue of monthly premiums; instead, it will prompt the government to focus on discovering new revenue generation strategies to fund healthcare expenses in the
The affordable care act presented the United States with the most extensive overhaul since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960’s. The act was a response to staggering statistics on the price of healthcare and the resulting uninsured rate within the United States. The affordable care act uses Individual Mandate and Health Insurance Exchanges to combat major factors causing high insurance cost and low insured rates. As with most reform, the public has not been one hundred percent unified on the potential effectiveness of the Affordable Care Act.
With taxes from healthcare slowly creeping into one’s income, a person under government healthcare is essentially paying the same, if not more, than a person under independent healthcare (Peikoff). Whether it is the scary policies in the PPACA or the destruction of market drive through government handouts, government healthcare is not the best route for the US. A free-market system provides much more advantages than a government system. A free-market system also puts more freedom in the hands of a consumer.
Our health is everything to us, whether we’re young or old, white or black. An individuals health could determine a lot of factors in their overall life time satisfaction. However, in our capitalist society healthcare has been turned into a business. With universal healthcare being lauded by conservatives, we have developed an issue of some individuals being left without adequate healthcare due to the fact that they are unable to pay the outrageous premiums some insurance companies charge. The rate of lack of coverage, as well as the reasoning behind it have been provided by the Central Texan Sustainability Project with a survey of Texas citizens.
Preventive services were provided to Medicare recipients for free and prescription drug discounts will help lower costs over the following ten years (“USDHHS,” 2014). From 2012 through 2013, the ACA began integrating health care systems addressing health care inefficiencies to help reduce overall costs and to prepare states, hospitals, and insurance companies for upcoming changes. According to Goodrich and Conway (2013), the ACA’s most anticipated provision began at the end of 2013 with the launch of the Marketplace, which provided individuals and small businesses access to affordable health
Why doesn’t the USA have a universal healthcare system? Despite being one of the biggest world economies, the USA doesn’t guarantee its citizens a tax-funded, widely accessible healthcare system. The US spends amounts orders of magnitude higher than any other country in the world but still ranks 22 out of 35 industrialized OCED countries in their citizens' life expectancy. The main reason for that is a dysfunctional healthcare system comprising different insurance companies, independent providers, and healthcare system providers. Of course, several policies try to help people that find themselves in unfortunate situations.
Even cited instances of more accessible care under a single-payer system are negated by certain findings. Undeniably, rationing occurs within single-payer, but it is worth noting that health care rationing is not necessarily unique to single-payer. Rationing is a distinct and inherent part of both types of health care; however, the rationing that occurs within a single payer system are undoubtedly more profound. Single payer is unique in that it mandates rationing, both implicitly and explicitly, for a multitude of reasons, including budgetary concerns and mandates. Rationing health care in this way will have significant short term and long term ramifications, but the perceived effects are not all speculative.
The first editorial is in favor of the universal healthcare system. The author supports the claim with statistical reasoning when presenting the argument. The editorial focuses more on facts, logic, and reasoning rather than emotions and opinions.
Healthcare costs in the United States are constantly rising straining the budgets of families and employers. As a result of the rising healthcare costs, insurance premium rates have been also increased. The premiums rates are increasing more rapidly than income which is part of the reason why Americans aren’t able to have access to affordable health insurance. Although the Affordable Care Act has been passed, there are many people still uninsured. The purpose of the Affordable Care Act was to improve the quality of care, provide more Americans with access to affordable insurance, and minimize healthcare spending in the United States.
The real debate is how can we accomplish the goal of universal healthcare in the most affordable and sustainable way. The United States is evaluated as a wealthy country, yet there are more penurious countries who provide health maintenance, paid through higher taxes. “In the United Kingdom and other European countries, payroll taxes average 37% - much higher than the 15.3% payroll taxes paid by the average US worker” (Gregory). With this data, the only reform would be to end the private health insurance companies of dominant health services, and incorporate a single payer system. Conversely, it is factual that taxes will rise, but the implementation of universal healthcare will better the health of American citizens.
“Universal Health Coverage is achieved when everybody receives the healthcare, they need without suffering financial hardship” (The Elders 1). This means that theoretically anyone could receive quality treatment without discrimination of income. However, economists estimate that 85% of tax-paying Medicaid recipients and 66% of tax-paying Medicare recipients would pay more if a Universal Healthcare system was implemented (Baldacci and Moffit 24). This demonstrates how Universal health care would actually hurt the impoverished as they are the ones under government assistance already. A mixed Health Care system is a great compromise that benefits those in need without an atrocious cost.
Introduction: Healthcare is such a growing issue in the United States today, especially with the debate and controversy over whether to repeal or keep the current healthcare system. There is a lot of debate over the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare and the new bill. This act had done a lot of good for those who were uninsured, however, there were still many problems with the act that should be addressed, especially when there is so much talk about changing the current system for a newer one. Especially when one looks at the federal changes made in 2012 to reimbursement and the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 (Larrat, Marcoux, & Vogenberg, 2012).
Hannah Rudzki 6 June 2023 APUSH Debate Over Universal Healthcare in the US Time and time again, debates over universal healthcare appear in the US. This could be directly between politicians or between you and your mother in law at the dinner table. Either way, the topic remains one of some seriousness. Universal healthcare is the idea that the government would guarantee citizens quality healthcare without extreme financial hardship.
46.8 million Americans were reported as uninsured in 2013, which equivocates to one sixth of the population. Those without insurance have revealed that they risk “more problems getting care, are diagnosed at later disease stages, and get less therapeutic care” (National Health Care Disparities Report) and those insured risk losing their insurance. Inadequately covered citizens are often working-class individuals who simply cannot receive insurance due to uncontrollable inconveniences and therefore jeopardize having medical coverage. In these instances, Americans have a chance of being diagnosed with diseases that they had no opportunity to prevent or could not diagnose them at an early stage of the illness. Patients have suffered unnecessarily due to lack of health care, and “18,000 Americans die every year because they don't have health insurance” (PNHP).