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Should there be universal health care in USA?
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By:
Charles Smith |
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Introduction
Health care entails preventing, treating, and managing of ill health and the protection of physical and mental welfare through services provided by the nursing, medical and related health professionals. Health care comprises all the products and services intended in promoting health, which includes “preventive, curative and palliative interventions, whether directed to individuals or to populations” World Health Organization Report (2000). The structured provision of these services might comprise a healthcare scheme. This could consist of a particular governmental establishment for example, in the United Kingdom, the National Health Service. In majority of developed nations and several developing nations health care is offered to everybody in spite of their capacity to pay. The USA is the only rich, industrialized country which does not afford universal healthcare to its people. (Institute of Medicine, 2004)
Thesis statement
Debate on whether America federal government should provide universal healthcare or not is not new in America, among the USA politicians, policy experts, reform advocates physicians and the common public. This paper will argue in favor universal health care for America. Government should provide universal healthcare to all since healthcare is a basic need and nobody should go without getting this basic need at whatever time he/she needs. To further support this position, the paper will pose several arguments as to why the government should provide universal healthcare, by discussing several points in specifically the underlined below;
What is universal healthcare?
First, it is important that we define what universal health care is, for the purpose of literature clarity. Universal health care which is also referred as “single payer system” or national health care if provided will be similar to the current Medicaid scheme which is provided to the low-income individuals. However the difference is that the universal scheme will apply each one of the USA citizen regardless of his/her ability in paying. (Institute of Medicine, 2004)
List of pros supporting this argument
Reduced cost of health care
Dubay and Cook observe that, “if universal health care is provided, it will significantly reduce the cost of heath care in America”. This will occur as a result of reduced administration expenses; this is according to the report carried by journal of American medical association. The report revealed that when health care system is publicly administered, it will reduce the administrative costs by several millions of dollars. The costs will be reduced also by the reduction brought about by buying in bulk. (Dubay and Cook)
About 47 million USA people do not have health insurance to care for their health, and yet the numbers continue increasing. Since employers are increasingly moving towards the course of providing a Wal-Mart-model health coverage through changing health care expenses to workers, America’s employees struggle a lot to pay for high premiums, co-payments and deductibles—if at all they can manage to pay for this coverage.
Working households are currently undergoing through double-digit raises in the expenses of health insurance, high unaffordable expenses for doctor appointments as well as skyrocketing costs for medical prescriptions, which has forced lots of families to delay receiving required health care or at worse; to turn down the health insurance for themselves or for their families since it is very costly. Health care expenses are increasing at a rate which is five times that of inflation. The Centre for Studying Health System Change, estimated that, health care expenses rose by 10%in 2002, which was among the biggest soar in over ten years. In the initial 6 months of 2003, health expenses rose a further 8.5%. Premiums paid for employer-sponsored health care insurance coverage rose almost by 13% in 2002. While, employers decline to pay health care coverage, this drift possibly will lead to millions of employees losing their entitled employer-based coverage.
Such employees and their families can be only assisted if the government offers universal health care for all.
Universal health care is more inexpensive
However the cynics say that reforming the health sector is too expensive, too precarious, and too impracticable for the USA. (Obama, 2007) Well may be the cynics have to be living someplace else. Since when one looks to what health care predicament is doing to the American country, to the families and more important the economy, one realizes that inaction is what is dangerous and be so cautious is what is costly, and what is needed is doing something, which is implementing universal health care. (Obama, 2007)
The American people pay $15 billion extra in taxes as a result of the costs of health care for those who are uninsured. This has trapped the American people in some kind of a vicious cycle; while the uninsured makes the premiums to increase, additional employers cut health care coverage. While additional employers cut health care coverage, extra people turn into being uninsured, and then the premiums go up even more. (Obama, 2007)
Barrack Obama in his article, The Time Has Come for Universal Health Care sates that “the problem in American today concerning universal health care is not about the money; being costly, it is simply on good planning”. The $ 2.2 trillion which is spent on health care annually is enough to provide universal health care for if proper planning is put in place. That amounts which is spent in heath sector is enough to hire enough physicians pay them well and provide quality and affordable universal health care to each American family. (Obama, 2007)
So how comes that the country is spending a lot of money on health care? It has been stated that a 25% of the total amount which is a quarter of the net sum is used up non- medical expenses; which are generally paperwork and bills. This is totally needless. (Obama, 2007)
Nearly all other industries in the whole world have put aside billions on such administrative expenses through carrying it out all online. Each transaction one makes at present costs less. A good example is at the Veterans Administration, before it used to cost nine dollars to obtain ones medical record, but latest technology implies that one can get his/her medical records using the internet almost free. However, since in the health care sector this novel technology is being used, a transaction still until now costs about $25, of which none goes to improve the health care. Supposing we streamline this issue and automate the health care sector we can save up to $ 600 million annually which will go along way in assisting in provision of universal health care. Thus, the federal government ought to think about this issue. (Obama, 2007)
An additional, more contentious aspect that requires to be looked at is how much of the health care expenses go towards the unprecedented profits which drug and health care providers earns. It's absolutely reasonable for a company to strive and create revenue, however when those earnings are increasingly getting more and more every year whereas millions of people lose their health care coverage in addition to skyrocketing premiums, the people have a duty to inquire why, and the only answer is that the current health care scheme is ineffective and benefits the big corporations at the expense of the ordinary people. Thus, in order to correct such anomaly it is best that a new health care system should be put in place. And that new system needs to be a universal health care. (Obama, 2007)
To avoid employee- employer disagreements
Employer’s continued demands to cut health care cover for employees was the main concern in the Southern California grocery employees lockout and strike in which almost 60,000 employees kept health care remuneration and stroke back the employer demands of freezing pension money subsequent to holding tough protest for nearly five good months. In the proposed grocery management’s, an employee earning slightly below $20,000 annually was to pay about $5,000 to uphold the equal level of remuneration they were getting in their earlier contract. (APHA, 2004)
In order to avoid such strikes and lockouts which have occurred in some organizations in the past due to heath care benefits cuts by such organizations, it is good to make the health care universal for all. This will ensure that the employers do not feel burdened by paying their fair share of health care. (APHA, 2004)
At this present time when industries are continuously facing high competition moreover employees hardly ever keep on with a single corporation or organization all through their working lives, it is important to evaluate if employer-based scheme of health care is still so far the best to provide insurance to each one of the American people. Thus, the important question to ask is what needs to be done to provide many of the American people with a preventative care that would imply reduced visits to a doctor and reduced cost at the long run. APHA (2004) clearly states that, “the federal government should ensure that each child who is eligible for health care insurance is signed up for such insurance”. It is worth noting that the among the industrialized nations America child is ranked 16th in the standard of health care the child receives, yet America spends the highest percentage and mounts than any other industrialized country in the world. (APHA, 2004)
To correct Inefficiency of Medicare
Even though Medicare, the public health insurance has been successful, it has increasingly been attacked at a moment when the absence of universal health care is by now a big crisis in USA. Many Americans who are aged 65 and over depends on Medicare, which currently serves over 40 million receivers in the America; The government has failed to even strengthen and modernize Medicare to incorporate an all-inclusive, inexpensive prescription drug benefits for every senior, instead the government in 2003 strong-armed through Congress a Medicare prescription drug bill which moves Medicare towards privatization. The Medicare bill as well:
• Forced about 32.5 million seniors as well as people having disabilities to pay for high premiums and other Medicare expenses.
• Dropped the coverage for unaffordable costs between $2,250 and $5,100.
• Prohibited the federal administration from bargaining for reduced drug expenses and can do nothing to halt the ever increasing prescription drug prices.
• Is a threat to the employer-provided drug remuneration of millions of those who are retirees.
Thus, to correct such a shortcoming, the government should formulate a universal health care for all to provide the much need health care to all. As seen earlier, though, Medicare is being used to assist the seniors it do not provide a comprehensive care for all. (Mitchell D. et al, 2001)
Delays in looking for medical care
Previous studies have shown that, those who are uninsured are less likely to get frequent health care services as well as utilize preventive services that are provided by heath providers. In addition they are highly likely to hold-up looking for care, which at the end results in extra medical crisis, that are extra expensive than constant dealing which such situations for example high blood pressure and diabetes. A study done in 2007 and published in Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) made a conclusion that, uninsured individuals were less probable than those insured to obtain any health care following an accidental damage or the beginning of a fresh chronic situation. (JAMA, 2007) It was also found out that the uninsured patients were twice likely to pay a visit to the emergency rooms than those who were insured. Thus, burdening an arrangement that is meant for really emergency cases, with less pressing health care requirements, this can situation can be corrected by offering universal health care which will enable each one to get earlier treatment and visit the doctor more frequently to prevent the high costs that arises due to delay in getting early check-ups. (Institute of Medicine, 2004)
Provide health care to all
Though, the opponents of universal health care argue that the 10th Amendment exhibits that simply the USA states are the ones who have the authority to make a decision on the matter of universal health care, and not the federal administration, still, we, the proponents of a universal health care ague that universal health care system has worked effectively in other nations which are industrialized, and since it has effectively worked there in countries like Canada and Britain, it can effectively work in USA also. It also should be put in mind that nearly 15% of USA GDP is used to pay for health care expenses; this being the highest amount paid by any nation in the world, yet many of Americans still goes without having an insurance to cater for their health care. (Dubay and Cook, 2006)
It also should be put in mind that, more than 80 percent of the USA populace presently has some category of health care, which can be through their employment, private company or the government. This has resulted to a number of challengers of universal health care to assert that a universal health care system is not needed, given that simply a small fraction of the USA population is the one which do not have the health care insurance. Still, it should be clearly be noted that, whereas 80percent of Americans might have some type of health care coverage, the remaining 20 percent who don't have any kind of health care coverage is too high. When one reflects on the truth that 20 percent of the USA people would be approximately 48 million citizens who lack health care coverage, it evidently becomes clear why the federal government should provide universal health care coverage in America. (Dubay and Cook, 2006)
Away from a federal government founded plan for a universal health care which, seems not to be fourth coming, a lot of states and cities and in the USA that have realized the importance of health care coverage to all, are at the moment in the course of implementation of their individual universal health care schemes.
Create healthy employees
According to Department of Health and Human Services it states that, “Since in 2000, employer-sponsored health coverage premiums have rose up approximately 73%”. For small sized companies, the premiums have more than been doubled. This fast run-up in expenses and pressures coming from an ever increasing globalized economy is making companies small or big to hold back on providing health benefits. Studies show that in 2000, 67 percent of non-elderly Americans were receiving employer-sponsored health coverage, today; only 63% receive employer-sponsored health coverage. (Department of Health and Human Services)
Large companies are increasingly hiring employees on a temporary basis via contract agencies, stand-in agencies, or getting contracts with people who are self-employed. This permits companies to trim down the numbers of employees with heath care benefits. Small companies have constantly encountered higher premiums for each person compared to big companies and thus have been less probable to provide health coverage. Given that several small companies are new, these companies feel particularly unwilling to offer a fringe benefits that’s has rose up almost two folds in costs in a period of only 6 years.
In addition, lots of start-ups survive as virtual firms: They’re a grouping of self-employed business associates, and not employees of the firm. This implies that they have to find health care insurance individually, this cost much more than employer-grouping heath care coverage.
For the past 20 years, a lot of employment has been generated in the services industry sector where small companies have been the custom. Since these small companies are declining to provide the health care coverage to its workers, and the fact that employers are resisting raising premiums, has greatly increase the number of Americans without any health care coverage. At present, about 60% of the total Americans who are uninsured are in the age bracket of 19 and 45 years. This figure has almost doubled in the past 20 years. (The Commonwealth Fund)
Thus, we must recognize this drastic changes occurring in the companies heath care policies and create a universal health care coverage plan. Some people may ask; who is going to finance this scheme? To start with, one should be aware that universal health care coverage entails a social compact-thus individuals ought to be required to finance.
Secondly, individuals as well as companies ought to contribute; companies will harvest huge benefits from having a workforce which is healthy. In addition the federal administration would be able to raise money to finance lower-income families and cover nearly all of the costs of individuals with very high medical expenses. Universal health care coverage might easily incorporate private health care plans. However unless we government restructure the health care scheme, private health care insurance coverage will soon be present simply for a those who are fortunate, who are just a small percentage.
List of Cons against the argument
Costly to provide
Though, has it has been seen universal health care has several good advantages, it of course can not miss its bad side. Those opposing universal health care in America say that it is too costly to provide such a scheme. “The American family premiums are estimated to be at a high of $922 because of the current expenditure of health care for those who are uninsured”, Health issues (2004). The American people pay $15 billion extra in taxes as a result of the costs of health care for those who are uninsured. And if the government offers universal care, it will have to get more money in form of taxes which will be an extra cost to the people.
May lead to poor quality of health care
In addition, the quality of healthcare might be compromised if it is universal provided this is because the government interference will reduce competition in the industry, which might lead to excellent quality in American health care being compromised.
Conclusion
Universal health care is care if provided will be similar to the current Medicaid scheme which is currently provided to the low-income individuals. Except this care will be for all, regardless of their financial status, which will ensure that the fundamental human need of living healthy is achieved. This paper has argued that the federal government should provide a universal health care plan for the American people. Among the reasons as to why this should be done is because it will; Reduced cost of health care, prevent employee- employer disagreements, correct Inefficiency of Medicare, reduce Delays in looking for medical care , provide health care to all and Create healthy employees. This will drive the economy to new heights as people will be more forced in their work than worry about medical bills. However, in spite of what arrangement of proposals and policies to be used to get the USA to provide universal healthcare, it is paramount that the federal government must provide this much required universal health care. As senator Barrack Obama says “We must act, and we must act boldly, since the most expensive course is to do nothing”. (Obama, 2007)
Reference:
Websites
Altom,L.K and Churchill,L: (2007): Pay, Pride, and Public Purpose: Why America's Doctors Should Support Universal Healthcare; Available online at; www.medscape.com accessed on 27/3/2008
American Public Health Association (APHA) (2004): Eliminating Health Disparities: Toolkit, available online at; www.apha.org; Accessed on 26/3/2008
Department of Health and Human Services (2006): Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation: Overview of the Uninsured in the United States; Available at; http://aspe.hhs.gov. Accessed 27/3/2008
Dubay L, H and Cook A. (2006): The Uninsured and the Affordability of Health Insurance Coverage, Health Affairs; (2006): available online on www.healthaffairs.org; Accessed; 26/3/2008
Health issues: (2008): What's wrong with America's Health Care Retrieved from, www.issues/healthcare/whatiswrong/index.cfm, Accessed on 26/3/ 2008.
Institute of Medicine; Insuring America's Health: Principles and Recommendations, Institute of Medicine at the National Academies of Science, (2004): available online on: www.iom.edu ; accessed 2008/3/24
JAMA (2007): Injury or the Onset of a Chronic Condition", JAMA, March,
Obama, B. The Time Has Come for Universal Health Care; (2007) Available online at, www.obama/speech/070125-tehe-time-has-co/print.php; Accessed on 26/3/2008
The Commonwealth Fund: Gaps in Health Insurance: An All-American Problem. The Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey; 2005. Available at http://cmwf.org/chartcart Accessed 27/3/2008
World Health Organization Report (2000): "Why do health systems matter?" WHO; available online on; www.who.org Accessed on 27/3/2008
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