Universal Health Care

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and the well-being of oneself and one family, including…medical care” (Should All Americans Have the Right to Health Care). It’s the government’s duty to protect the life of all of its citizens; Universal health care is a step that needs to be taken to protect these lives. Some people argue that providing access to health care will be ineffective and drive up the cost. The government should provide access to universal health care because it protects health, it will lower the cost, and it eliminates discrimination from the health care system.

First, the three basic rights outlined in the constitution are life, liberty, and property. The whole purpose of the government is to protect these basic rights. Requiring health care would help ensure and protect the most important of these three rights, life. In 2006 two million people’s lives would have been saved if preventive care had been accessible to everyone (Currie). If the government requires all its citizens to have universal health care then everyone will have access to preventative care, this in return will raise the health of the population has a whole. When preventative care is widely distributed then it will help contain the spread of epidemics and people won’t wait until they are chronically ill to seek treatment (Should All Americans Have the Right to Health Care). By containing these diseases before they become epidemics, it will save a lot of money. Going to get a flu shot would cost much less than getting the flu and getting omitted to the hospital.

Second, Universal health care would lower the cost of health care. Health care is a human right...

... middle of paper ...

...fect 1 in 2 Americans: 129 Million People Could Be Denied Affordable Coverage Without Health Reform. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
Currie, Donya. "Medscape Log In." Medscape Log In. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
Dorrien, Gary. "Treating Health Care as a Human Right Would Reduce Health Care Costs." Universal Health Care. Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Health Care Fix (The Role of Public Option)." Christian Century (14 July 2009). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
Gerdes, Louise I. Medicine: Opposing Viewpoints. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2008. Print.
"Key Facts about the Uninsured Population « » The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation." Key Facts about the Uninsured Population. N.p., 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 09 Mar. 2014.
"Right to Health Care ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.