Universal Health Care Essay

“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

Martins (2008), concludes that “universal health care is extremely important to all” (p.429). But, a study conducted in Canada, on the accessibility of health care in a universal health care system, found that “20% participants had an Ontario health insurance number but were not in possession of their health insurance card… which almost all health providers require to be presented at each visit” (Hwang et al., 2010, p.1455). This shows that it is not a fact of inaccessibility but it shows that the health care systems are not being advertised as they should be. Only 40% of veterans were found to have insurance (O’Toole et al., 2007, p.447). But the study also showed that 90% of the vets were eligible for coverage. This proves that it is not a lack of coverage but a lack in providing coverage to those qualified. Even though universal health care may seem like the solution to many health care problems, it does not overcome the problems faced to the homeless who don’t have easily solvable

If health care could be readily provided to all people, homeless or not, would the number of people using the emergency department for non-emergencies decrease, resulting in less congestion at the emergency room for people who actually need the attention to get it. Another solution would be if an insurance system were created that could insure people who are homeless that would allow them to be able to pay for their prescriptions? “Homelessness can be the cause as well as the result of poor health.” Another interesting topic that could be studied would be if a stable health care system would provide homeless people with permanent housing, or at least give them motivation since they have one less thing to worry about. There are many unanswered questions about how providing adequate medical services to all people affect not only the homeless, but the community as a