Pros And Cons Of Universal Health Care And A Single Payer System

The U.S. Health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance.” (WHO, 2000, p. 1) Progression in the United States has not kept up with the advances in other wealthy nations dealing with the population health. Disease and chronic disability report almost 50% of America health problem (JAMA, 2013).

The United States has a very unique healthcare system. Does this mean that we are simply leagues ahead of the rest of the world in healthcare? Unfortunately, not at all. The ideal of American exceptionalism is apt to describe our healthcare system. That is, our current system is exceptionally bad. Per capita, the United States spends “twice the average of other developed countries” on healthcare ("United States Per Capita Healthcare Spending Is More Than Twice The Average Of Other Developed Countries"). Yet, in the World Health Organization’s ranking of healthcare systems by nation, the U.S. comes in at a dismal 37th place, despite spending the most per person of any country on Earth on healthcare ("World Health Organization’s Ranking of the World’s Health Systems").

The United States health care system ranks 37th in the world. Statistically, it’s bizarre how United States is amongst one of the most advanced nations in the world and the fact that it spends more on its healthcare

           In a country where healthcare is a decision, many debate if our country should keep our health care system privatized. Health care is an essential need in society because individual health can change at any time without warning at any time. While there are both pros and cons of this system, the pros outway the cons. I believe that our nation should ensure basic health care to all legal citizens, no matter the class. Many Americans fall into circumstances where they are not able to pay the expensive bills that privatized insurance companies billhave so they do not have chose to not have insurance at all. Universal health care gives those people the means of financial support when they medically need

Tears fall throughout the night; a mother living in Belfast, England has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She knows that with the rate of people being admitted everyday to a hospital, it will be months, even years, before she receives treatment; by then, it may be too late. We’ve been spoiled with top notch healthcare in the United States and, upon our fairly well-off thrones, we can’t even begin to fathom the enormous sorrow and agony that these people must face. That’s why in 1906, the American Association of Labor Legislation (AALL) began the first campaign for health insurance for an ailing working class. Later in 1945, President Harry Truman proposed the idea of ‘Universal Heathcare’, which would grant all citizens the access to free

In The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care, T.R. Reid, a Washington Post reporter and NPR commentator, compares the United States’ health care system to the systems of other industrialized democracies. In this journey, he analyzes costs, quality, and overall functioning of the different systems. Through his first hand experiences around the globe, Reid illustrates a variety of systems, emphasizing the changes America needs.

Our healthcare system needs major restructuring. Major improvements needs to begin with "all health care organizations, professional groups, and private and public purchasers should adopt as their explicit purpose to continually reduce the burden of illness, injury, and disability, and to improve the health and functioning of the people of the United States", (Crossing the ……, 2001).

On March 23, 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed by President Obama, raising the question for many of whether this new law was going to be more helpful or hurtful. With universal healthcare, healthcare coverage would be increased tremendously, costs would be reduced, jobs would be created, and consumers would be protected. Conversely, it will also raise taxes and wait times, lead to a smaller number of doctors, and infringe on some employers’ 1st amendment rights. Presenting both arguments for and against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allows one to draw a conclusion on whether the new program will benefit or hinder the citizens of the United States.

The United States is ranked below China, Algeria and Iran when it comes to health care. The United States is ranked 46 among 48 countries. (Huffingtonpost.com, 2013)

Many would argue that here, in the United States, we have the best healthcare in the world. We benefit from the most up to date medical technologies, medications, and services. People come from every corner of the world to take advantage of our top notch physicians and facilities. But is this reputation warranted, and if so, at what cost? The average annual cost per US resident is $7,681; this comprises 16.2% of our gross domestic product. These costs rank us among the highest of industrialized nations (Lundy, 2010). Does this high expenditure equate to better outcomes? According to the National Scorecard on US Health System Performance (2008), the US received a 65 out of 100 possible points.

Efficiency: The U.S ranks last, due to low marks on the time and dollars spent dealing with insurance administration, lack of communication among health care providers, and duplicative medical

The notion of universal health care leads to a diminished flourishing society is one of the many unsubstantiated reasons why the United States cannot offer universal health care. Universal health care is a government funded national health care delivery system, which has succeeded in high-income industrialized nations like the United Kingdom. While the United Kingdom ranked 9th in overall health care systems and the United States 17th, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported United States health care expenditures are exceedingly more than that of other high-income countries (Bentley et al., 2017). This suggests that affordability is not the sole issue preventing the United States government from adopting a universal health care model. Despite their exceedingly high health care expenditures, the United States population suffers greater morbidity and mortality of preventable conditions than the United Kingdom population(Bentley et al., 2017).The UNITED STATES health care infrastructure is very unique compared to the United Kingdom, regardless of their similarities in health care delivery.

“The goal of real healthcare reform must be high-quality, universal coverage in a cost-effective way.” How would you feel if you were in need of assistance but could not afford the care? How would you feel if you wanted to be the next governor but could not afford the tuition? This would change your outlook on things right? There are citizens here in America who deal with this everyday. Michael Moore filmed a documentary called Sicko shining light on the america's healthcare system and the people who are being affected by it. He also showed the effects of universal healthcare in these countries Canada, Cuba, and Great Britain on how they make the prices affordable or they pay for it threw their taxes. Though some people believe healthcare and education should be free because our government is not financially stable, governor may increase tax rate, and physicians and professors would be paid less.

When we think of health care, we think that it is the maintenance and improvement of our physical and mental health through medical services like hospitals, clinics, etc. In the US we pay for our health care but in some countries they have universal health care. According to the World Health Organization, universal health care or UHC means that all people and communities can use all the health services that are needed while also ensuring that these services are not exposing the user to debt/financial hardship. (What is universal coverage?, 2017) I do not think that US Citizens should be required to have health insurance.

Americans are not amateurs in challenging the current paradigm and fighting for its shift. The 21st century has brought about much needed conversions in America. Conversations including gay marriage rights, fair pay between men and women, gun control laws and many others. These conversations emerge when our basic human rights are infringed upon. Thus, healthcare in America is not immune to these conversations; on the contrary, our healthcare system has numerous issues to address.