Single Payer Health Care System Essay

Health care should not be considered a political argument in America; it is a matter of basic human rights. Something that many people seem to forget is that the US is the only industrialized western nation that lacks a universal health care system. The National Health Care Disparities Report, as well as author and health care worker Nicholas Conley and Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), strongly suggest that the US needs a universal health care system. The most secure solution for many problems in America, such as wasted spending on a flawed non-universal health care system and 46.8 million Americans being uninsured, is to organize a national health care program in the US that covers all citizens for medical necessities.

A Call for a Single Payer Universal Health Care System As the 2016 Presidential Elections draw near, the topic of much debate is that of healthcare. Some candidates vow for universal healthcare and mandate health insurance for all, while others believe that tax credits and health savings accounts will resolve the current crisis. Consequently, the nation has been divided on which plan to support and move forward with. Some fear universal health care will diminish the quality of care and lead to long waits, while others fear that health savings accounts and tax credits won’t be enough to insure all and will do little to diminish the administrative costs of the current system. Ultimately because healthcare is a basic right that should be guaranteed

The nature of the current debate surrounding the implementation of universal healthcare in America is troubling because it is comprised almost entirely of pragmatic arguments void of concern for the principles behind the project. Before one asks how much a thing will cost, how it will be organized, or whether “the uninsured” will benefit, one should ask whether enacting universal healthcare is in keeping with the values and principles of the American experiment. In other words, is universal healthcare good for America?

A comparable example of government run health care is the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA is generally considered to be poorly managed, with many veterans having difficulties making appointments and long wait times. Opposition to a single-payer system suggest that the issues with the VHA are reason to believe that the same issues will be present with universal government run health care. Also, according to NCPA.org, “Most public insurance in this country is actually administered by private insurance companies” and “most people with public insurance are in private sector health plans” (Goodman). This means that many positive examples of organization and administration we’ve seen so far with our public health care options, such as Medicare and Medicaid, have actually been outsourced to be managed by private

The U.S. could follow models of universal healthcare that have been proven to work in other countries, like Canada and Sweden, in which to lay the framework of a new system of universal healthcare. It would provide coverage for citizens of every economic class via whichever avenue of funding proves to be most efficient. The success of universal healthcare in other nations proves that this is an achievable goal, well within the realm of

As Bernie Sanders once said, “Health care must be recognized as a right, not a privilege.” Most developed countries choose to live by this quote while the United States of America chooses to go against it. Universal health care has benefits on multiple levels, whether it’s a single individual or the people in a whole. The U.S is one of the few developed countries that doesn’t offer universal health care to their people, yet the U.S spends more than seventeen percent of their GDP on health insurance. Many people believe that universal health care is a simple one solution problem, but the truth is that there are multiple forms of universal health care that provide all citizens with the health insurance they need.

Zutshi 1 ENC 1101 20 September 2014 Universal Healthcare: America's Savior? A long debated hot topic, the implementation of Universal Healthcare within the United States is growing in importance as the currently administered health care system is one of the worst out of all developed, and even some under-developed countries. Many countries ensure healthcare to their citizens as a basic right, while in the United States there are approximately 45 million uninsured, and many more under-insured.

The United States no longer posses the ability to effectively drive down premium costs through the means of insuring healthy people. For example there is a town with ten houses, and, on average, one house a year burns down. If no one in the town pays for insurance they have a 10% chance of their house burning down each year. If everyone in the town pays insurance they spread the risk because no matter whose house burns down no one will have to pay anything as the insurance company will cover the cost of the house that burns down each year and make a slight profit. This is the same logic applied to the whole medical insurance market. Some people are at a ton of risk, such as being old or having a history of poor health. These people in poor health are more expensive to cover simply because they hold more risk for the insurance company as they require more

Healthcare is an important access we hold, but an issue is that not everyone can have that access to the healthcare they need. There are many arguments regarding the United States adopting a universal healthcare system. Although the universal system may reduce the quality of care the people receive, there are too many people not able to get any kind of care. Therefore a universal healthcare system would be more beneficial to the citizens of the United States than the limited access of care we have today.

Healthcare is something everyone needs and should be able to get, but right now that is not happening. In America there are millions of people who don’t have healthcare insurance. This is because some can’t afford the insurance plan. There are also millions more who have health insurance, but can’t afford using it. This means that they are paying for an insurance plan, but the deductibles are so high they can’t afford to go to the doctor. This is causing Americans to not be as healthy as they could be. Bernie Sanders came up with a plan that is very different than what is currently in place. Chris Jacobs who writes for the Wall Street Journal said, “While Mr. Sanders claims that his bill would extend Medicare for all, it would instead create and entirely new program while borrowing the Medicare name” (Jacobs). This is the right thing to do because right now the system needs help, and a big change is the best way to improve it. His plan includes many benefits that would solve the problems of the current plan.

Oberlander Johnson discusses the pros and cons of a single payer health care system. Johnson says that the issue of health care has become a hot topic due to the emergence of Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. While many Presidents in the past like Harry Truman have tried and failed a single payer health care system, what has occurred is incremental health reforms like Medicare which is national health care for the elderly. The most recent change to the health care system is the Affordable Health care Act and while Johnson says the bill has expanded insurance, there are still many problems in the American health care system which is why there is so many calls from single payer advocates for significant change. Despite the ACA there are

But we already pay for healthcare in our taxes collectively and to insurance companies individually, and it's costing us dearly. We hear stories every day now about how someone died because they couldn't afford their medication or treatment. Of people suffering for years because they couldn't afford to see a doctor. We see the wasteland of suffering that our current system has given us, and we can't let the fear of change keep us from doing better, for all of our sakes.

The American health system has been controlled by private, all-for-profit companies who couldn’t care less about the health of a human, but are more worried about maximizing their dollars. If the Affordable Care Act is repealed, or “done away with”, tens of millions of Americans will be without adequate health insurance. This is exactly what Americans

Universal health care is a valuable service and should be available in all countries. In many countries millions of people suffer from not having access to healthcare they deserve or not being able to pay for the healthcare they need. In the states alone, an estimated 50 million people do not have insurance because of the inability to pay for it. Universal health care would be beneficial to all countries because it would not exclude anyone from getting the necessary help, it would prevent the insurance companies from denying care, and it would contribute to preventative care to take place.

Have you ever seen the dirty, homeless people on the streets? Maybe if they had access to health care, they could clean up and look better. Nevertheless, if that homeless person could clean themselves up, they could interview for a job and start a new life. Major reasons for this is, it would save lives, in the long run it’s cost-effective, and providing free health care helps people gain access to insurance. Basic health care should be free to everyone because, it could save lives, in the long run it’s cost-effective, and providing free health care health people gain access to insurance.