Despite the successes of single-payer systems in other parts of the world, it is clear that implementing such a system would not be possible in the U.S. due to the staunch refusal to consider such a switch by the conservative party. Dr. Jonathan Oberlander, professor of social medicine at the University of North Carolina, explains that a single-payer system is “an aspiration more than a viable reform program” because there is no viable plan for overcoming the public stigma against tax increases in addition to the obstacles such a reform would have in getting passed (“The Virtues and Vices…”). To expand the view on the range of government involvement on health, let’s look at Singapore, which has a unique system that combines government funding …show more content…
This outlook is something we should model when trying to fix our own system. It is clear that expanding access to medical care is a common goal between politicians in the U.S. government, so we need to look beyond our partisan beliefs to cooperate and come up with reforms to our healthcare system. By looking at medical care as a right, we will see healthcare not as a way to champion our own political beliefs, but as a way to provide medical care to all. In addition, we need to look beyond our own desires and see what’s best for the majority, as Singaporeans do. A lot of the public outcry against reform is due to the fact that people don’t want to see their own taxes or healthcare prices increase. For example, some of the opponents of Obamacare are worried that the individual mandate will force them to pay a fee, which in reality is only the face if they can afford a healthcare plan but do not want to purchase one. By seeing access to medical care as a right, we would be less selfish about healthcare reform and more concerned about the country’s collective wellbeing, resulting in a more effective effort to provide medical care to
Shaw’s article relates greatly to my topic. I want to argue that the United States private insurance health care system needs to be replaced with single payer healthcare, and this article shows how Canada’s single payer system is superior to the United States”. Shaw’s explanation of how the Canadian system is better can help me to prove that the United States needs to get on with the rest of the developed world in terms of health care coverage. One of the examples that Shaw used to show that Canada’s system is better is by pointing to the fact that Canada effectively covers all of its citizens, “In the Canadian system, the number of uninsured patients is negligible because there are no private insurers to reject uninsurable patients” (Shaw 2004). This is far different from the United States where we have over thirty million Americans uninsured. In this way Canada’s system is superior to the United States which will help me to prove that the United States need’s a single payer health care system similar to Canada. Another way in which Shaw shows how Canada’s system is superior is in that the cost of health care is less burdensome on the citizens, “Canada has not yet experienced crises over high premiums like those that have occurred in several regions of the United States, resulting in doctor “walkouts.” The fact that Canada doesn’t have the issue of highly expensive premiums and doctors refusing to take surgeries is another example I can use to prove that single payer is better and the United States needs to change to a system similar to Canada’s. This article also can help me to develop a nice rebuttal to attacks on single payer health care from the right. The American right often criticizes single payer health care by citing the long wait times and even claiming some people die waiting to get the medical coverage they need. Shaw shows in his article that while wait times for same procedures may be true emergency surgeries are prioritized, “ For example, the
During the study of various reforms that were proposed and denied, both the GOP and Democrats attempted to find a balance that would guarantee the success of their proposals. Years of research, growing ideologies, political views and disregard for the country's constitution sparked an array of alternatives to solve the country's healthcare spending. The expenditure of US healthcare dollars was mostly due to hospital reimbursements, which constitute to 30% (Longest & Darr, 2008). During the research for alternatives, the gr...
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...
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.
Health care is an uprising issue today in the United States. I believe in order for health care or the medical field to succeed in the future that social contract should be enforced. By enforcing social contract, it will allow health care to be more efficient by allowing individuals to assume responsibility for their own healthy by having the ability to ensure health. According to The Enduring Democracy book, " from the philosophy of Jean- Jacques Rousseau, an agreement people make with one another to form a government and abide by its rules and laws, an in return the government promises to protect the people’s rights and welfare and promote their best interest"(Dautrich, 7). In other words, if people came to an agreement about health care being available for all American citizens, the government will uphold this idea and will make sure all American citizens have the right to health care.
Overall, the healthcare system in the United States is still broken because not everyone is insured and disparities are still evident. More policy evolution is required if the US is going to be a nation state that has completely equal citizens. Health scholars must research more so that they can influence what happens in health policy. I believe the patient’s opinion needs to be included so the system
There has been a lot of talk and debate lately over Health Care Reform, as people are trying to answer the question – Should a universally accessible health care system be implemented in the United States (US)? This ongoing highly debatable issue remains a hot topic among US citizens from all walks of life, from the very poor to the very wealthy. Health Care Reform affects everyone. The vast majority of the US population is very dissatisfied with the current state of health care. According to the ABC News and Washington Post cooperative poll, 57 percent of Americans aren’t satisfied with the overall system of health care (Langer, 2009). Consequently, the issue of the Health Care Reform was born, but before analyzing the actual aspects of this reform it will be wise to brush up on those major attitudes and concerns which occupy ordinary people and how they respond to the unfolding changes in the area of health care and social security.
One of the most commonly debated topics in recent American history has been that of health care. Would Americans be able to reap more benefits if individuals continue to be independent in their pursuits of health care, or would it be beneficial for all if the government introduced more regulations regarding health care, changing our system to resemble those of other developed countries? As more solutions are offered, it becomes harder for people to reach a consensus on the best way to approach this issue. Despite this, America must decide what system of healthcare will benefit the most citizens and improve the quality of life the most. It is becoming increasingly apparent that a universal healthcare system would be the most effective and
The government says if there was universal health care payroll taxes would double. Also if universal health care came into effect the wait time for a doctor visit would nearly double. These are good points but the wait time does not make a difference, all that matters is that most people in America will have health care. Many say it is to costly and limit service but studies constantly show when well managed to provide quality care it delivers better health outcomes at lower costs. Using a single payer health care system it would cover everyone under a single plan. What single payer does is gives access to prevention, early prevention, reducing insurance overhead, reduce provider overhead, and bulk purchasing power. Access to prevention and early Intervention is recieving access to primary care and can catch illness before its serious and costly. Reducing insurance overhead will stop advertising and competion. Reducing provider overhead will stop doctors from spending some much time on paperwork and pay more attention to actually care. One payer can bargain for the best prices this is bulk purchasing
Healthcare professionals want only to provide the best care and comfort for their patients. In today’s world, advances in healthcare and medicine have made their task of doing so much easier, allowing previously lethal diseases to be diagnosed and treated with proficiency and speed. A majority of people in the United States have health insurance and enjoy the luxury of convenient, easy to access health care services, with annual checkups, preventative care, and their own personal doctor ready to diagnose and provide treatment for even the most trivial of symptoms. Many of these people could not imagine living a day without the assurance that, when needed, medical care would not be available to themselves and their loved ones. However, millions of American citizens currently live under these unimaginable conditions, going day to day without the security of frequent checkups, prescription medicine, or preventative medicines that could prevent future complications in their health. Now with the rising unemployment rates due to the current global recession, even more Americans are becoming uninsured, and the flaws in the United States’ current healthcare system are being exposed. In order to amend these flaws, some are looking to make small changes to fix the current healthcare system, while others look to make sweeping changes and remodel the system completely, favoring a more socialized, universal type of healthcare system. Although it is certain that change is needed, universal healthcare is not the miracle cure that will solve the systems current ailments. Universal healthcare should not be allowed to take form in America as it is a menace to the capitalist principle of a free market, threatens to put a stranglehold on for-...
With increasing concerns of debts and deficits, Canada’s publicly funded health care system has recently become the target of fiscal attack. Efforts to reform and restructure the system have produced few results. Currently, some governments throughout the country are looking towards a more radical approach. An approach that would see not only the reform and restructuring of the method of operation of the current system, but that would change the system entirely. The proposed idea? In Alberta, it is to increase the role of the private sector in the current system.
Like many college students I have to pinch pennies to make it through school. Every last penny counts when budgeting my monetary supply. As a result of this I have found that I do not have enough to spare to pay for health insurance. Unlike most college students I am over the age of 23 and thus not covered by my parents insurance. Since I am only employed part time I am also not able to obtain it from work. This puts me in the company of the more than 42 million Americans who do not have health insurance. It is past time that the United States join the rest of the industrialized countries that have already decided to provide their citizens with health care. I believe a single payer health care system is necessary. A national health care system would provide a number of benefits. To begin with, it would cut the overall costs of health care. Secondly it would actually decrease bureaucracy by removing the many layers of insurance paper work patients and physicians are forced to go through in our current system. Finally it would increase life expectancy by allowing more money conscious Americans to receive adequate prevention instead of waiting until an illness becomes worse. All of these reasons point towards a national health care program as being the solution we need. Some opponents of single payer sytems, mostly financed by insurance companies that stand to lose billions from such a plan, point to some of the other countries that have enacted such plans as an advisory against our following suit. However they fail to take into account some of the methods unique to those countries and overstate some of the problems while ignoring our own.
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.
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).