Universal healthcare is a political policy based on the premises of universal human rights, fairness, justice, and equity. The United States was also founded on ethical principles like justice and equity. Therefore, programs like Obamacare that promote universal healthcare are essential for upholding the premises of the Constitution. Obamacare was in some ways a stepping-stone from the completely privatized healthcare insurance system that prevails towards a universal healthcare model like those practiced in many other countries with high degrees of success. Healthcare, like education, needs to be framed more like a universal human right than as a privilege, and covered under the auspices of government spending.
There are also pragmatic reasons why universal healthcare makes sense for the American economy. According to the World Health Organization, countries that implement universal healthcare reforms have reduced their overall healthcare spending costs; if the United States adopted universal healthcare coverage the country would experience…...
This is not the way it should be; people should not have to choose between what is best for themselves and what is best for the people they love because an insurance company is standing in the way of their lives. People have the right to health care and the right to be the healthiest that they can be, whether that health is given through medical visits or through sustenance. A universal health care system would ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to receive the best care possible so that they can live and healthy and long life no matter how much money they make and what job they have. Health care is not something that is negotiable in a country as wealthy and developed as the United States.
Universal health care would improve the health of the people of the United States and would ensure the health of…...
mlaWorks Cited
Armstrong, Pat., Armstrong, Hugh. & Fegan, Claudia. Universal health care: What the United States Can Learn From the Canadian Experience. New Press, 1999.
The Associated Press. "Study: Canadians Healthier Than Americans." 2006. 28 Nov
2010. Web. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-30-canadians-health_x.htm
Herzlinger, Regina. Who Killed Health Care: America's $2 Trillion Medical
In addition, those with preexisting conditions could also not be denied coverage. Voucher reimbursement would be based on age and health of the patient, so younger, healthier individuals would be reimbursed at a lesser amount while older, less healthy individuals would be reimbursed at a higher amount, ensuring that insurance companies were fairly reimbursed for their costs. Writers Emanuel and Fuchs continue, "So, the payment to insurers for covering older, sicker patients will be higher than for younger, healthier Americans, eliminating the incentive to exclude high-risk patients" (Emanuel & Fuchs, 2005, p. 21). This would create a fairer more equitable health plan for all Americans, and it would eliminate the equation of poverty from the mix. Today, most uninsured patients come from the lowest levels of income in America. They cannot afford insurance, and their employers do not provide it. Thus, the current healthcare system is unfairly biased toward…...
mlaReferences
Battista, J.R. And McCabe, J. (1999). The case for universal health care in the United States. Retrieved from the Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care Web site: May 2007.http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states.htm28
Chua, K-P. (2006). Arguments and counterarguments about universal health care. Retrieved from the American Medical Student Association Web site: May 2007.http://www.amsa.org/uhc/uhc_counterarguments.pdf28
2006). Canadian healthcare system fact sheet. Retrieved from the American Medical Student Association Web site: May 2007.http://www.amsa.org/studytours/CHS_FactSheet.pdf28
Emanuel, E., & Fuchs, V.R. (2005, June). Solved! It covers everyone. Washington Monthly, 37, 20+.
However, the insurance man remains the "middle man." And we see - especially as a result of the internet - many businesses eliminating the middle man today. It is working, and people are saving money on items that were once marked up for the manufacturer's profit, and then marked up again for the middle man's profit. If we eliminate the middle man, then we eliminate waste. and, if we go by the current profit margins of the insurance companies, we will save hundreds of millions dollars - perhaps even billions of dollars a year and the government could then well afford to subsidize the physicians and healthcare providers as opposed to the insurance companies - which is what the plans proposed by President Elect Barak Obama does, as did Senator Hillary Clinton's, and as did Senator John McCain's plan do.
When we take out the middle man who is incentivized…...
(Universal Healthcare: The Debate Rages On, 2009)
The solution must be one that is more than just an effort to attempt to imitate the system of Europe but instead must be, as cited in this specific report, one that "...undergoes a radical change - beginning with the medical schools..." (Universal Healthcare: The Debate Rages On, 2009) Indeed, it appears that a fundamental change is the only method of change that will serve effectively at this juncture therefore, it is the recommendation of the present study that fundamental change be the approach in fixing what is wrong with the American health care system as any other change will be cosmetics surgery and will appear to fix the problem however, in reality this attempt would 'mask' the problem, at least momentarily, but in the long-run will only serve to exacerbate an already ailing and failing health care system. This is a moment…...
mlaBibliography
McGowen, Charles M.D. (2008) Solutions to the Rising Cost of Healthcare: Seeking the Cause of the Problem. 11 Aug 2008 American Policy Roundtable. Online available at http://www.aproundtable.org/healthcare/cause.html
McGowen, Charles MD (2008) A Doctor's Prescription on Providing Better Health Care in America. 13 Mar 2008. American Policy Roundtable - Online available at http://www.aproundtable.org/news.cfm?news_ID=2213&issuecode=casino
Lessons on Universal Healthcare (2009) PRI - The World. 3 Feb 2009. Online available at http://www.pri.org/business/economic-security/lessons-on-universal-healthcare.html
Universal Health Care: The Debate Rages On (2009) 1ST Health Insurance. Online available at http://www.1sthealthinsurancequotes.com/universal-health.html
Public health service: A renewed debate on the role of health Insurance
Nine pillars of the Affordable Care Act
The upside of the Affordable Care Act
Health reform for masses
Challenges posed by the ACA
Public health service: A renewed debate on the role of health Insurance
There are few other topics in the public health domain that have stirred more controversy than the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) effective from March 2010. The law was part of the Obama administration's most significant effort to regulate the U.S. healthcare system. The main goals of the law were to:
a) Increase the quality and affordability of healthcare insurance
b) Lower the rate of uninsured population using a more expanded insurance network through private and public insurance companies
c) educing the healthcare cost for the U.S. government and individuals
The bill aimed to alter the healthcare insurance by lowering the minimum standards for obtaining the subsidized insurance under PPACA and…...
mlaReferences
Auerbach, D.I., & Kellermann, A.L. (2011). A decade of health care cost growth has wiped out real income gains for an average U.S. family. Health Affairs, 30(9), 1630-1636.
Emanuel, E., Tanden, N., Altman, S., Armstrong, S., Berwick, D., de Brantes, F., ... & Spiro, T. (2012). A systemic approach to containing health care spending. New England Journal of Medicine, 367(10), 949-954.
Haeder, S.F., & Weimer, D.L. (2013). You Can't Make Me Do It: State Implementation of Insurance Exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. Public Administration Review, 73(s1), S34-S47.
Howell, B., Williamson, S. & Wyatt, P.C. (n.d). Supreme Court Upholds PPACA. American Bar Health e-Source. Retrieved from: http://www.americanbar.org/newsletter/publications/aba_health_esource_home/aba_health_law_esource_0712_howell.html
Part One
The American healthcare system is in a crisis situation, with exorbitant spending unbalanced by “poor health outcomes, including shorter life expectancy and greater prevalence of chronic conditions” versus high income countries with universal healthcare systems (Squires & Anderson, 2015, p. 1). The Affordable Care Act was an attempt, albeit an incomplete one, to reform the way healthcare is structured and financed. Universal health care is a concept that has gained some traction in the United States, but its thorough implementation is hindered by values, norms, and fears. Overall, the pros of universal healthcare undoubtedly outweigh the cons. The pros of universal healthcare include reductions in wasteful spending, the promotion of social justice and health equity, and the improvement of overall health outcomes in the United States.
The United States already has some limited forms of universal healthcare, addressing the needs of specific patient populations. For example, the American military healthcare…...
At which point, the overall costs of care will be passed on to the tax payer in the form of higher taxes. This leads to a decrease in the overall quality of care and it will not slow the price increases, as the government seeks to restrict access to these services. Then, when the program becomes broken (such as: what is happening to Social Security) removing or reforming the bureaucracy is nearly impossible. (Messerili, 2010)
A second argument that many critics make about universal health care is: it will stifle innovation. Whenever, the government is running any kind of program, they will place a large number of restrictions and regulations on the industry. When this takes place, you are causing some of the best and brightest minds to seek careers in other fields, as the restrictions from the government are too cumbersome. A good example of this would be: the…...
mlaBibliography
Trends in Health Care Costs and Spending. (2006). Retrieved March 13, 2010 from Kaiser Foundation website:
http://www.kff.org/insurance/upload/7692_02.pdf
Andersen, R. (2007). Changing the U.S. Health Care System. Washington D.C: National Academy Press.
Gratzer, D. (2002). Better Medicine. Toronto, on: ECW Press.
universal access to health care in U.S. population
Ethical Issues in Global Health: orld Healthcare Organization a Fundamental Universal Health Care Enabling U.S. Population in Accessing Healthcare
The objective of this study is to examine ethical issues in global health care and specifically the orld Healthcare Organization as being a fundamental in universal health care enabling the U.S. population in accessing healthcare. The work of right (2004) relates that the United States, in a comparison of several indicators of health "ranks in or near last place among industrialized nations of the world." (p.2) In addition, the United States has one of the world's highest rates of child mortality with eight deaths per 1,000 children under the age of five reported in 2002 as well as one of the shortest life expectancy rates in the world. (right, 2004, paraphrased) hile the United States boasts the best in the world's choice of medical specialists,…...
mlaWorks Cited
Tanner, M. (2009) Universal Health Care Not Best Option. The Bulletin. Cato Institute. 23 Feb 2009. Retrieved from: http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/universal-health-care-not-best-option
Wright DB (2004) Universal Access to Healthcare: Lessons from Sweden for the United States. 17 Nov 2004. Retrieved from: http://www.unc.edu/~wedavid/web/Comparative%20HC%20Systems%20Paper.pdf
(Menzel, 1990, p. 3) Fisher, Berwick, & Davis alude to the idea of integration in health care, with providers linking as well as creating networks of electronic medical records and other cost improvement tactics.
The United States and other nations over the last twenty or so years, have begun a sweeping change in health care delivery, regarding the manner in which health information is input, stored and accessed. Computer use in the medical industry has greatly increased over the last thirty years the culmination of this is fully networked electronic medical record keeping. (Berner, Detmer, & Simborg, 2005, p. 3) the electronic medical record trend began in the largest institutions first, as hospitals and large care organizations attempted to reduce waste and improve patient care, while the adoption has been much slower among physician's practices and smaller medical institutions. (Hillestad, et al., 2005, pp. 1103-1104) Prior to this time medical…...
mlaResources, and Utilization
WHO rates France as having the best healthcare ("World Health," 2000). In addition to universal healthcare, France also has non-profit supplementary providers, which means that the government subsidizes 70% of regular expenses but pays 100% of more expensive or long-term treatment plans (Sandier, Paris, & Polton, 2004). Money for subsidies comes from mandatory earnings contributions such as 5.25% salary, capital income, and gambling winnings (Sandier, 2004).
An argument that often arises is that people say they don't want the government deciding what medical procedures they can have. However, decisions regarding what procedures are covered by a particular health plan are made by the healthcare insurance companies, which are for-profit ("Insurance Verification," n.d.). Many people are denied treatment regardless of the illness. As already mentioned, some of the other nations with universal healthcare have supplementary plans in addition to the government plans that allow the patient more choice.
There are many arguments…...
mlaReferences:
Carrasquillo, O., Himmelstein, DU.,Woodhandler, S., Bor, DH. (1999). A Reappraisal of Private Employers' Role in Providing Health Insurance. NEJM, 340(1), 109-114.
"Insurance Verification & Eligibility Services." (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.globaledgeusa.com/insurance_verification_eligibility_services/
Mahon, Mary. (2010, June 23). U.S. ranks last among 7 countries on health system performance. EurkAlert. Retrieved from http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-06/cf-url062210.php
Reid, T.R. (Producer). (2008, April 15). Frontline: Sick around the world [Television broadcast]. New York: Central Broadcasting Service.
Health Care Past, Current, And Future
The health of any nation should be a top priority for leaders and elected political representatives, but in the United States it took several centuries for the nation to begin to come to terms with providing health care for its citizens. This paper covers the gradual implementation of health care services and doctor training facilities in the U.S., and also covers the recent attempt by President Barack Obama to reform a chaotic, poor-functional and expensive health care system. Thesis: It is a scandal of massive proportions that a well-functioning, citizen-friendly universal health care system cannot be instituted in America, the world's most democratic superpower. Until the divisive and toxic political climate can be reformed, there is no chance of major reforms -- or for universal health care coverage -- in these United States.
Past Health Care Services -- Early America
Health care in colonial America in the…...
mlaWorks Cited
Daly, John. (2005). Professional Nursing: Concepts, Issues, and Challenges. New York:
Springer Publishing Company.
Gorsky, Martin. (2010). Good Health for America? History Today, 60(2), 1-6.
McCarthy, Robert L., and Schafermeyer, Kenneth W. (2007). Introduction to Health Care
However, they contradict themselves trough supporting one's right to commit physician-assisted suicide, since this would virtually mean that the individual who is no longer willing to live is not provided with health care meant to prevent him or her from dying (Epstein, 1999, p. 1).
Among those opposed to the fact that health care is becoming increasingly better are those who are in their twenties and are obliged to work hard in order to pay for their own medical insurance and for that of the underprivileged (Bonner, 2010).
Contemporary health care is basically provided by groups forced to pay taxes in order for others to benefit out of the process. The fact that health care is a privilege and not a right was made obvious ever since the 1954 foundation of the Department of Health, Education, and elfare. The name contained the term welfare with the intention of highlighting how health…...
mlaWorks cited:
Bloche, M.G. ed., The Privatization of Health Care Reform: Legal and Regulatory Perspectives (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003)
Epstein, R.A. Mortal Peril: Our Inalienable Right to Health Care? (Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books, 1999)
Heirich, M. Rethinking Health Care: Innovation and Change in America (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1998)
Sanders, B. (2009). Retrieved from the Huffington Post Website: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/health-care-is-a-right-no_b_212770.html
Surgeons in Canada report that, for heart patients, the danger of dying on the waiting list now exceeds the danger of dying on the operating table. Emergency rooms there are so overcrowded that patients awaiting treatment frequently line the corridors. Not only is there a long wait for care, but care is frequently denied to patients who prognosis is poor. In ritain kidney dialysis is generally denied patients over the age of 55. At least 1,500 ritons die each year because of lack of dialysis.
Countries with national health care systems also lag far behind the U.S. In the availability of modern medical technology. In Canada, high-technology medicine is virtually unavailable. In addition to being biased against new medical technologies, national health care systems generally discriminate against nontraditional practitioners, such as naturopaths and chiropractors.
It is true that Canada spends only about nine percent of its GDP on health care, while…...
mlaBibliography
Financing National Health Insurance." (2003, February 4). Available:
(Accessed 9 Feb. 2005).http://www.pnhp.org/nhibill/nhi_financing.html
Health Care Policy Issues. Sept. 2004. Available:
(Accessed 9 Feb. 2005).http://www.newsbatch.com/healthcare.htm
Healthcare Legislative Bill
The expanded and improved Medicare for all Acts
The Expanded and mproved Medicare for All Act was introduced to the House of Representatives in 2009 and seeks to lobby for the implementation of a common single-payer health care system throughout the United States o0f America. The bill if enacted would require that all medical care costs be paid for automatically by the government instead of private insurances for the same. The move will significantly alter the role of private insurance companies as merely offering supplemental coverage especially when the kind of medical care sought is not all that essential (McCormick, 2009).
With the Expanded and mproved Medicare for All Bill, the country's national system will be paid for through taxes and the monies that will replace the regular insurance premiums. Proponents of the bill argue that by eliminating the need for private insurance companies in the national medical care system,…...
mlaInstitute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science, (2010), Insuring America's Health: Principles and Recommendations
The American Journal of Medical Practices, (2011), The Impact of single-payer Medicare
Program, New York
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