You are absolutely correct, healthcare is a government issue. The government is responsible to ensure public health needs and are meant to protect the people they serve from harm and promote health (Frieden, 2013). If the government was not involved in healthcare and people were sick and dying, whom would they govern? Would the people not seek and follow individuals, which they felt were acting in their best interests and protecting them. The United States Constitution was established for many reasons, one being to promote the general welfare of all Americans, certainly that includes healthcare. By understanding that healthcare is not an island absent from the government, but an extension of our forefathers promise to keep us safe.
The idea is to create a government-run health care plan that would be an alternative to the private insurance plans offered under the Affordable Care Act, or provide a fallback in markets where insurers have been pulling out. A public option could also be a way to stabilize the exchanges because a government-run plan could be used to enroll the people with the most expensive medical conditions. The private insurers would be more enthusiastic about selling policies because they might have to worry less about losses. Public option is simply a public health insurance agency, typically a government-run agency that can compete with the private insurers. This is sort of a half-way point between single payer and the pre- ACA private market. Almost
The federal and state governments are the largest supporters of health care services in the United States. Examples of support that our government provides include assisting those who are in need of health care with numerous options such as Medicare and Medicaid, the employment of millions of people, and billions of dollars each year for new discoveries, treatments, and cures. The government does indeed offer great assistance with programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, two of the largest programs that the government is involved in. Not only does the government provide those who are in need with Medicare and Medicaid, but there is also the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs provided by the government are there to help those who cannot afford insurance. Insurance is not affordable to many families due to the economy and I feel that just because a family or an individual cannot afford insurance does not mean they should not be able to
The federal government is involved in all parts of health care at the national, state, and local levels. They have public
The healthcare system of the United States was established as a system of health and welfare programs created to provide affordable treatment to the citizens of the United States. Recently, the Affordable Health Care Act was passed changing the structure of the system (Mulvany, 2012). While in theory the new arrangement works, it has its flaws due to the resulting cost, slowness, and the government interfering with religious and personal beliefs. These problems have led many people to question the role of the government in the life of the individual.
September 10, 2009 President Barack Obama said “Our predecessors understood that government could not, and should not, solve every problem. They understood that there instances when the gains in security from government action are not worth added constraints on our freedom. But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by perils of too little.” When thinking about health care you have to first define what the system is
For example, globalization was not a concern when the constitution was written by our forefathers, yet neither was driving a vehicle. However, lawmaker’s enacted laws requiring every individual to wear safety belts while operating a vehicle, as well as every state mandating individual’s carry valid insurance on their vehicles. So, there is really no difference in the government mandating healthcare for every individual. The Justice Department says America's health insurance market and its health care system are so inextricably intertwined that Congress has plenty of room under the commerce clause to regulate them as it sees fit (Pickert, 2011). In other words, no one really disputes Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce, and it's silly to argue that health care--which accounts for 17% of the U.S. economy--doesn't involve interstate commerce (Stengel, 2011), therefore giving the government every right to invoke a healthcare law.
When I was looking through the issues our government and country is facing, I saw a lot of politically motivated issues but healthcare is the one that is just too big to not do some research on. Healthcare issue also made me question, why do we need the government? “A government is needed to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity.” (Preamble, US constitution), If the government is here to provide us with a good health, happiness and fortunes, then healthcare is definitely classified under this condition, therefore the government must interfere and make the right decision to make its
I personally believe that government is involved too much into health and human services. When I see the percentage of the funds that go into health and human services it’s nice to see that the government recognizes the importance of keeping its citizens healthy and taking action to provide citizens with Medicaid and Medicare. The issue I have is the complexity and aggravation it causes the majority when they go a little to overboard. In my opinion its perfect when the government focuses on significant issues that affect the masses that helps everyone. In the past it would have been acceptable for state and local government to direct a huge portion of its funds into dealing with hookworm, an infection that in places like Georgia affected a total of 51.7 percent of people. This was a disease that affected everyone no matter what social status or life choices you had, in that time period. It was effective that they completed public work projects and worked on providing everyone with sanitary conditions and hospitals.
Sanjay Sanghoee wrote an article for The Huffington Post stating, “The reason that Americans are so divided on this issue is that the right to good health (which can only be ensured through guaranteed health care) is not mentioned in any of our founding documents” (Sanghoee 2013). The fact that the “right to good health” is not mentioned in any founding documents is because healthcare wasn’t an issue in 1776 when America first became a free country. Even if there were a developed healthcare system back then, it would be so different to the healthcare we have today. Amendments and rights have been added to the constitution, including the right to due process, and prohibiting search and seizure (Sanghoee 2013). If the right to health care was so important, it could have been added to the constitution as a right.
Health care is one of the major political issues facing the nation today. Most industrialized countries have national healthcare system, while the United States only provide coverage for those who are eligible under government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. As the cost of health care to continue to increase, many question the role of the government while other blame insurance companies for increase in premium.
The Federal Government became increasingly involved in health provision following the Second World War, with a focus on ensuring access and equity to health care. When Medicare was implemented in 1984, the Federal Government, States and Territories agreed to provide free health care for all Australians in all public hospitals.
Health care is an essential service "like education, clean water and air and protection from crime, all of which we already acknowledge are public responsibilities." Never mind that many Americans do not believe that public agencies are in fact providing adequate schooling, pollution control, and crime prevention. If we think health care is a right, then we should be appalled that the United States is the only western democracy whose citizens do not have universal access to health care. If you think health care is a commodity, then you should accept the fact that some of those without coverage will end up at the mercy of their hospital when the medical bills come due. Realizing that there is no free lunch when it comes to health care. That is why health care should be rationed by government regulations.
America is facing a healthcare crisis! In town hall meetings across America, brawls have broken out during speeches given in an attempt to promote government run healthcare. When looking at the big picture, healthcare is only a small portion of the current problems, but a very big one, in the eyes of Americans, considering how it affects every citizen. The healthcare system in the United States is experiencing hard times, but does that mean, we, as Americans, should just step aside and let government take over? Absolutely not! Government will claim that the numbers of uninsured Americans are high because of the prices insurance companies charge, but are these numbers correct and who makes up these numbers? What will a government run
Healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of health and the prevention of sickness diagnosis, and treatment of disease, illness, and injury. Because of the need for healthcare is so important, the America government had to come up with a way to make sure people have healthcare and be able to pay for it. The government came up with a healthcare system that use insurance and premiums to make sure one has coverage when they go to the hospital for healthcare needs. If the government and hospitals really care about people’s health, then why do they make insurance and premiums so high that people cannot afford them? In 2005 there was an estimate 45 million Americans that lacked health insurance, and the numbers have been climbing since (Clemmitt, Universal Coverage 1). If the government says that they care about human life, then there should just be universal coverage so everyone can get their healthcare needs met no matter if that person is poor or rich.
Have you ever wondered exactly what the government does for our country in regards to health care? Many have the impression that the government is not really of much assistance to them. However, in reality, the government does more than most people realize. The government actually plays a vital role in health care but most people look past it. I am sure very few people have actually sat down and pondered or even have done research to find out the impact of the government’s role in health care. However, I intend to clear up this misconception. The federal and state governments are the largest supporters of health care services in the United States. Examples of support that our government provides include assisting those