Arguments Against Universal Healthcare

Even after the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, many Americans still remain uninsured and in crisis. Americans are reportedly the least satisfied with their health care system while Canadians are shown to be the most content (Hussey, 2004). This dissatisfaction may be due to the crises of escalating costs and failing coverage in healthcare that is being experienced in the United States today. A properly functioning health care system is vital to lessen the effects of disability, disease, and injury, thus, creating an overall healthier population and decreasing premature death (O'Neill, 2007). Comparisons between the health care systems and health standings of the United States and Canada have become progressively significant in order

While these are all important factors to consider, if we take a closer look at national health care data, it can be seen that arguments against universal health care are not completely justifiable. Evidence illustrates that a universal health care system may actually mend public health and shrink total health care expenses. A study conducted in 2012 indicated that the top financial problem for American households was finding a way to pay for health care. The study also concluded that family health insurance has increased eighty-percent between 2002 and 2013 (Woolhandler, 2012). It is because of this financial struggle to have health insurance that many Americans are choosing to go without insurance regardless of the tax penalty. Canadians, however, are not suffering from these financial burdens. With the mass amount of both private and public insurers in the United States administrative costs of health care only continues to increase (Weitz, 2013). Canada has eliminated private insurers which has reduced health spending dramatically. By eliminating the advertising, selling, and administering of insurance plans and using a single-payer system, Canadians have

It is thought that increasing the right to health care to all Americans may increase the time it takes to receive medical care. While not all physician visits are urgent, some are. According to the Government Accountability Office, it is because of Canada’s universal right to health care that patients wait approximately nine weeks to see a specialist compared to the United States that has an average eighteen day waiting period (Woolhandler, 2012). While for some patients this wait is tolerable, others may need immediate consultation. Conversely, it can be argued that even though there are additional waiting times for Canadians, at least every citizen will have the option of seeing a specialist whereas many uninsured Americans will never see a specialist for their condition because they do not have the ability to afford such doctor visits. Though Canadian’s have more access to primary health care, certain health treatments of chronic diseases such as cancer are superior in the United States. The United States on average has an additional “five year survival rate compared to Canadians” because the cancer screening rates are much higher. This is why the United States has the highest breast cancer survival rate in the world (Abernethy, 2010). It is important to remember, nevertheless, that though this is a major positive to America’s health care system, Canada has an