Healthcare in the United States is incredibly complex, and many Americans are still left underinsured or uninsured. A lack of universal health care coverage has left between 29.8 and 31 million Americans without insurance coverage (Shi & Singh, 2016, p.429). All citizens should have proper access to health care. The health of citizens should not be relegated to those of a particular income, health status, race, gender, language, geographic region, etc. The costs of health care have become so astronomical that only those who can afford care, receive it. The health outcomes of citizens have been significantly impacted by this when looking at particular populations of people in the country. Research outlines racial and financial disparities …show more content…
Rather than checking to see if a patient is insured or not, providers can automatically begin treatment. No longer would health care organizations have to apply for government money to compensate for the uninsured patients that they treat. This could allow for better access and equity of health care because people would have the ability to receive treatment at any facility and not just those who are deemed safety net centers. Facilities would be less burdened with ethical issues surrounding payment and insurance coverage. Removing these barriers would allow the health care system to improve efficiency and outcomes. With the idea of universal health care coverage in mind, there are challenges to implementing legislation that will benefit all individuals in the …show more content…
Americans have been skeptical on why other countries have universal healthcare coverage, but the United States does not. Part of the reason why the United States does not have universal healthcare is due to the long wait times reported in countries like Canada. In 2013, the average wait time to see a specialist in Canada was approximately eight weeks, versus 18.5 days in the United States in 2014 (Barua & Fathers, 2014). Medicaid is also an example of a current federally funded single-payer healthcare system that provides a right to healthcare for low-income people. In a 2012 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), approximately nine percent of individuals receiving Medicaid had trouble obtaining necessary care due to long wait times, versus the four percent of people with private health insurance coverage (U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2012). Overall, this results in a significant amount of people not being able to get the type of care that they need due to the long wait
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.
It is also an issue that affects almost everyone in our great nation. The reasons for and against a Universal Health Care are many and both sides can make justified arguments. Over the last few decades, the United States has witnessed skyrocketing health care costs. Health insurance premiums have been rising on average by double-digit percentage points and even more recently, a rate of increase that is 2-3 times the rate of inflation. Because of these out-of-control health care costs, there has been a steep rise in the number of uninsured Americans. Currently, more than 45 million Americans lack any form of health insurance, and millions more have insurance, but lack adequate financial protection from health care costs. Many in the USA believe that a universal health care system would bring about changes that would improve the quality of life for everyone, but my purpose for writing this essay was not to make mind-blowing suggesting on how to create a universal health care system that is accessible across all the United States. That I will leave for the policy experts to figure out. My goal here was to simply show why this is a public issue and why it is so important that we pay close attention to the conversation about a universal health care system in the US because it really does, affect every one
Primary concern of US healthcare system is the number of citizens without health insurance coverage. Under Obamacare, still 31 million people are uninsured. Most of the people uninsured are low income people
In the United States of America, there are millions of individuals that live with chronic medical problems. In which these conditions require some sort of medical attention at least once a month for revaluation, and possible treatment. Thankfully, for the majority of those individuals with their health insurance covers those costs that essentially would cripple their bank accounts. On the contrary, there are millions of people living in the United States, who are uninsured. Even with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act or as it is known by the public Obama Care, there are still individuals who cannot afford the basic needs of healthcare. Health care should not be looked at as a privilege but a right for everyone regardless of their
This requires coverage of promotive, curative, preventive, and palliative services. (Kieny & Evans 2013). Universal Care demands an increment of health insurance enrollment but “the surge in enrollment is expected to place a strain on provider capacity, especially for primary care physicians” (Hall & Lord 2014, page. 7). The United States healthcare system does not have the amount of physician to supply the needs of the remarkable number of patients enrolled under the new healthcare reform. Moreover, during the first open enrollment period (which ended in March 2014), about eight million people purchased individual insurance through the state and federal exchanges, exceeding expectations despite severe software problems. About a quarter of these enrollees were previously uninsured. Another six million uninsured people enrolled with Medicaid.( Hall & Lord 2014, page. 6) Definitely, this enrollment surge could result in a shortage of available physicians, especially primary care
The topic of universal health care has become a subject of fierce debate in the United States. Whether it is beneficial or harmful to a countries quality of health care is still up in the air, leading the United States down a path of uncertainty when it comes to reviewing their own health care system. Universal health care is known for its unimaginable wait times, poor insurance, outdated medical procedures, and suppressed medical innovations. All of which are things that American citizen will have absolutely no tolerance for, as of today most Americans would rather pay for the world class health care they are already receiving, rather then downgrading their standards of health care to adapt to the social norms of the world. In order for the United States to keep its pristine health care reputation they must stay on top of medical advances and provide their citizens with
Health care in the United States today is a very argumentative topic. People across America debate whether we should use a universal health care system or continue with the health care system we use today. In my opinion we shouldn't use a universal health care system.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, health care is a term meaning the maintenance and improvement of physical and mental health, especially through the provision of medical services. The health care system used in the United States today is partially privatized health care, which means it consists of private and public providers. Currently in the United States, it is illegal to not have health care. Although it is illegal, thirty-three million people in the United States still do not have health care. “The health care system in the United States is vast and complex, making up nearly twenty percent of the economy and consisting of a variety of public and private payers and providers” (Amadeo).
Keeping the cost of healthcare at an affordable price is important so that all populations can benefit. Vulnerable populations such as those living in poverty and seniors the increasing cost of healthcare means having less money and forces some to make difficult choices about balancing food and other needed care. “From the patients’ perspective, patients usually are more interested in their own costs and
It was shown that a greater percentage of people in the United States go without needed care due to associated costs than in any other surveyed nation. Similarly, Americans were the most likely to say they had issues with health care access as a result of the cost. Over one third of those surveyed stated they did not get recommended care, fill a prescription, or pursue medical treatment when they had a health problems due to costs.
The absence of the comprehensive scope of coverage and high expenses is personally connected historically and financially. I feel one reason the United States is absent of universal health care is that conservatives believe the government should have limited access to the role of society. Consequently, insurance in which the political groups view as a general scope and generally through fees; helps minimize costs. The administration controls and arranges the value of psychological wellness and medical services, and it kills the requirement for a reliable private medical coverage organization. The second reason is the budget; general human services are tied in with giving a predetermined therapeutic services bundle which will be of advantage to each from the general public to the point of providing budgetary hazard security, enhanced wellbeing results and enhanced access to wellbeing administrations.
Our country would be stronger if it had universal health care, or at least more and cheaper health care than it does now. Many people do not want to pay the cost because it is so expensive to pay for everyone to have universal health care. Research shows that in the three branches of our government – Executive, Judicial and Legislative – sometimes they think the cost is worth it and sometimes they think the cost is too great.
Whether or not universal access to affordable health care is something every individual has a right to or something they must earn is definitely a controversial topic. While many agree that proper health care is a key component to our daily life, many continue to argue that those who cannot afford health care treatment should solve the problem themselves, rather than looking for help from outside forces. However, in reality, access to affordable health care is not something only for the wealthy, but rather something that everybody needs and should be able to access, and thus is a human right. There are many criteria that make up the definition of what exactly a human right is, and one such principle is that proves access to affordable health care is a human right is that it is a necessity that is essential to human survival.
There are millions of Americans who can’t afford health care and are deprived of this basic right. Every American has a right to affordable health care. The government should provide equal health care benefits for all, regardless of their ability to pay.” This is in a right way of thinking because Health Care is seen as a right to even those who cannot afford it and not as a privilege to only the rich who have enough money to get medical attention whenever necessary. With the growth in the population and all disasters that can happen at any time, it is reassuring because of programs like Medicaid or Obamacare, the population of America can ease back and know if such disasters where to happen then they would be covered when needing medical assistance.
What comes to mind when one reflects on an under-developed, third-world country? Many envision extreme poverty, civilians dying of a curable disease, and slum-like housing. What would one think when comparing the United States to say, Africa? The United States is the most developed country in the world, but we fall short in one basic need: health care. According to Dr. Vincente Navarro who published in the American Journal of Public Health, “the United States is the only major developed country whose government does not guarantee access to health care for its citizens” (64). Of all the things the modern-day American worries about, healthcare should not be one of them. The United States needs to adopt a universal health care