A contentious issue exists in the United States over the question of universal health care. Universal health care refers to system of health care in which all citizens of a given country receive medical coverage and care. Many find this system to be unnecessary and do not like the idea for paying for other people’s coverage, while others support universal health care because more people will be able to receive medical service. This is an ethical issue because the question is raised whether an institution, such as private businesses or the government, should be required to provide medical care to all citizens. Many see the role of medical institutions as providing care to anyone who walks through their door, but this is difficult if that person …show more content…
In 2014, US spending on health care increased by 5.3%, reaching $3 trillion. This is about $9,523 per person. This growth has been primarily attributed to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (National). The act decreased the amount of uninsured persons, but the government had to increase spending. So to cover these expenses, tax rates were increased. Many are against paying for other people’s coverage in this way. They see it as taking steps toward socialism. Under this system, it is argued that the overall quality of care will decrease. For example, cancer survival rates for 5 year periods are higher in the US than European countries, which are known for their universal health care (Verdecchia). Many people are not willing to give up quality over quantity. Under a more privatized system, people could get health care of the quality they want based on their financial situation. Also, 56% of Americans do not believe that it is the government’s job to provide …show more content…
"The Case for Universal Health Care." American Medical Student Organization. N.p., Mar. 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. David. "Health Care Spending Comparison Across OECD Countries." Top Foreign Stocks. N.p., 4 July 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. "Key Facts about the Uninsured Population." Kaiser Family Foundation. N.p., 5 Oct. 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. "National Health Expenditures 2014 Highlights." Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2014): n. pag. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. "Research for Universal Health Coverage: World Health Report 2013." World Health Organization. N.p., Aug. 2013. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. Tandon, Ajay, Christopher JL Murray, Jeremy A. Lauer, and David B. Evans. "MEASURING OVERALL HEALTH SYSTEM PERFORMANCE FOR 191 COUNTRIES." World Health Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. "The Affordable Care Act Is Working." U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. N.p., 24 June 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. Verdecchia, Arduino. "Recent Cancer Survival in Europe: A 2000-02 Period Analysis of EUROCARE-4 Data." The Lancet Oncology. N.p., Sept. 2007. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. Wilke, Joy. "Majority in U.S. Say Healthcare Not Gov't Responsibility." Gallup. N.p., 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 21 Mar.
Healthcare in the United States is an extremely often discussed topic on whether it is morally a right or just a charity to those who cannot afford it. Plenty claim that health care is too expensive and not affordable so they demand aid from the government. On the other hand, the rest presume that the state is not morally accountable to take this type of action, since not every citizen and human being is equally eligible to receive the same healthcare.
According to editorial one, universal health care is a right that every American should be able to obtain. The author provides the scenario that insurance companies reject people with preexisting conditions and that people typically wait to receive health care until it's too much of a problem due to the extreme costs. Both of these scenarios are common among Americans so the author uses those situations to appeal to the readers' emotions. Editorial one also includes logical evidence that America could follow Canada's and Europe's universal health care systems because both of those nations are excelling in it.
On a global scale, the United States is a relatively wealthy country of advanced industrialization. Unfortunately, the healthcare system is among the costliest, spending close to 18% of gross domestic product (GDP) towards funding healthcare (2011). No universal healthcare coverage is currently available. United States healthcare is currently funded through private, federal, state, and local sources. Coverage is provided privately and through the government and military. Nearly 85% of the U.S. population is covered to some extent, leaving a population of close to 48 million without any type of health insurance. Cost is the primary reason for lack of insurance and individuals foregoing medical care and use of prescription medications.
America is known for democracy, freedom, and the American Dream. American citizens have the right to free speech, free press, the right to bear arms, and the right to religious freedom to name a few. The Declaration of Independence states that American citizens have the rights including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” America promises equality and freedom and the protection of their rights as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. But with all the rights and freedoms that American citizens enjoy, there is one particular area where the United States seems to be lacking. That area is health care. The United States is the only industrialized nation that doesn’t have some form of legal recognition of a right to health care (Yamin 1157). Health care reform in the United States has become a major controversy for politicians, health care professionals, businesses, and citizens. Those in opposition to reform claim that health care is not a human right, therefore the government should not be involved. Supporters of reform believe that health care is most definitely a human right and should be available to everyone in the United States instead of only those who can afford it, and that it is the government’s responsibility to uphold that right.
Even during the worst economic downturn, the advantages of a universal health care system remain hidden from society. Instead, the adverse impacts continue to occupy the minds of many Americans. Misguidedly, citizens are repeatedly ensnared into ideological disputes inc...
The United States (U.S.) has a health care system that is much different than any other health care system in the world (Nies & McEwen, 2015). It is frequently recognized as one with most recent technological inventions, but at the same time is often criticized for being overly expensive (Nies & McEwen, 2015). In 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) (U. S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.) This plan was implemented in an attempt to make preventative care more affordable and accessible for all uninsured Americans (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.). Under the law, the new Patient’s Bill of Rights gives consumers the power to be in charge of their health care choices. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).
“Homelessness can be the cause as well as the result of poor health” (Wise, Emily, Debrody, Corey &ump; Paniucki, Heather, 1999, p.445). This is a reoccurring theme that has existed within the homeless population for decades. While programs to help reduce this constant circle are being put in place all over the country to provide medical services for the homeless to be able to go to, many are still finding that health care needs for individuals as well as homeless communities are not being met. Many studies have been completed that study both the opinion on healthcare by those who have access to sufficient health care and homeless people’s perceptions on health care administration. While many companies are working to provide more personal health care systems, it appears that the larger problem is with a lack of people know about the health care systems that are in place to help them. Companies are trying to advertise more often to inform homeless people that there is health care out there for them.
In recent years, the number of Americans who are uninsured has reached over 45 million citizens, with millions more who only have the very basic of insurance, effectively under insured. With the growing budget cuts to medicaid and the decreasing amount of employers cutting back on their health insurance options, more and more americans are put into positions with poor health care or no access to it at all. At the heart of the issue stems two roots, one concerning the morality of universal health care and the other concerning the economic effects. Many believe that health care reform at a national level is impossible or impractical, and so for too long now our citizens have stood by as our flawed health-care system has transformed into an unfixable mess. The good that universal healthcare would bring to our nation far outweighs the bad, however, so, sooner rather than later, it is important for us to strive towards a society where all people have access to healthcare.
A health care system that provides free health care services to its entire citizen can be termed as universal health care. This is a situation where all citizens are protected from financial costs in health care. It is recognized around the globe as it provides a specific package of benefits to all citizens in the entire nation. For instance, free health care can result to improved health outcomes. In addition, it provides financial risk protection and an improved access to health services. There is an increasing debate on how citizen should be provided with free medical services. Although United State does not permit free health care services it should have free health care for all citizens. This is due to the fact that healthcare is the largest industry in United State. Due to the fact that United State is a rich country, it should have a healthcare system that provides free services such as treatment for its entire citizen. This will play a significant role, as it will stop medical bankruptcies in...
The implementation of a universal health care system in the United States is an important challenge that needs to be overcome. There are numerous amount of editorial that argue on both sides of the debate. Some people argue that a universal health care system would bring costs down and increase access to care while others argue that a universal health care system would be too expensive and reduce the quality of care. The correct answer requires intensive understanding and economics to overcome, the arguments must be examined for a proper answer.
Health insurance, too many American citizens, is not an option. However, some citizens find it unnecessary. Working in the health care field, I witness the effects of uninsured patients on medical offices. Too often, I see a “self-pay” patient receive care from their doctor and then fail to pay for it. Altogether, their refusal to pay leaves the office at a loss of money and calls for patients to pay extra in covering for the cost of the care the uninsured patient received. One office visit does not seem like too big of an expense, but multiple patients failing to pay for the care they receive adds up. Imagine the hospital bills that patients fail to pay; health services in a hospital are double, sometimes triple, in price at a hospital. It is unfair that paying patients are responsible for covering these unpaid services. Luckily, the Affordable Care Act was passed on March 23, 2010, otherwise known as Obamacare. Obamacare is necessary in America because it calls for all citizens to be health insured, no worrying about pre-existing conditions, and free benefits for men and women’s health.
The U.S. expends far more on healthcare than any other country in the world, yet we get fewer benefits, less than ideal health outcomes, and a lot of dissatisfaction manifested by unequal access, the significant numbers of uninsured and underinsured Americans, uneven quality, and unconstrained wastes. The financing of healthcare is also complicated, as there is no single payer system and payment schemes vary across payors and providers.
Universal Healthcare by definition means healthcare for all. That would also mean that an insured persons rates would not be increased to cover the uninsured. Universal Healthcare is moral and just obligation. By promoting the health of our citizens we then promote our infrastructure as well.
Universal healthcare is a system used in numerous countries to provide health insurance to all of its citizens. To do this, most countries use a single-payer system, which typically requires a country's citizens to pay for their healthcare through taxes. Some of the many countries that are currently under a universal healthcare system now include—but are not limited to—Japan, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia; however, the United States still does not have universal coverage. For decades, people have been trying to change this. John Conyers, a then-Representative of Michigan, introduced a bill in 2003 called H.R. 676, which essentially proposed universal healthcare and a single-payer system. This was ultimately
According to Roy, 2013 the issues of providing the affordable care act will unite both the supporters and offenders of the public policy, but in this current situation where the input costs are rising, it will become impossible for government in managing the public policy related to affordable health care. In order to provide affordable health care, majority of the US government has tried out different policies time to time, but unable to get success in realizing the actual policy goals. By providing the affordable health care to majority of the people who requires more amount as controlling the input cost is not possible (AAMC, 2013). Lack of doctors is one of the primary issue in providing high quality health care to the citizens especially those who are financially poor. The Supreme Court of the country passed an Act related to Health insurance as all should have Health Insurance to all the country people by the year 2014, but the at the same time government is concerned about constitutionality of these act (NYTimes, 2013).