Should the Federal Government Provide Health Care for All Citizens Who Cannot Afford Their Own?

Medicaid is an assistance program that provides medical benefits to low-income individuals. Although the Federal government establishes the general rules for the program, specific requirements are actually established by each State. Whether or not you can be eligible for Medicaid depends on the state where you live. You can choose from Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Louisiana, HMO Louisiana, Humana United Healthcare, and Vantage Health Plan. When you are choosing one of the plans through the carriers, consider what features it offers and how much it costs to see if it is right for you or not.

The question that has been brought to the table is should the U.S. Government require all American to have health insurance. Yes indeed the US government should require all Americans to have health insurance, however if they are going to require all Americans to have health insurance, they need to provide a financial reasonable options for American to purchase. The way the health care system has worked in the past, it would be very difficult to mandate all Americans purchase heath care without offering plans that they can afford. A major question that comes up in regards to health care is who pays the bill when Americans who are not insured require health care.

Medicaid is one of the most widely acknowledged sources of health insurance coverage in the United States, benefiting over 48 million low-income children and parents (Hansen, 2012). It also supports those over the age of 65 who may also receive Medicaid. By providing essential health insurance protection, Medicaid supports the growing un- and under- insured population. This federal program for the financially needy is administered at the state level. Coverage varies and each state creates its own rules, typically offering support through county social services, welfare, or other department of human services offices (Goodman, 1991).

Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP’s healthcare coverage is usually used in the typical American household. Though they serve different people they all have the same goal: To provide health coverage for lower costs and better care. They all have many ways they are funded. Medicare is funded through taxes, trust funds, premiums from members of Part A,B, and D, and funds from Congress. Medicaid and CHIP is funded by the government. The federal government pays states for a specific percentage of program expenditures or costs for a specific group. The percentage for Medicaid is 15% higher than CHIP’s. If you want to be a member of medicaid, you have to have a limited income, be 65 or older, a child under 19, be pregnant, be living with a disability,

Medicaid does not provide medical assistance for all poor persons. Even under the broadest provisions of the Federal statute (except for emergency services for certain persons), the Medicaid program does not provide health care services, even for very poor persons, unless they are in one of the designated eligibility groups. (Medicaid.gov. /).

Money plays a huge role in access, therefore it is a vital issue to discuss. Within the current system, lack of money results in lack of health care, which leaves thousands of people without any health care coverage. Between 2001 and 2005, the number of people paying for health insurance increased 30%, however income only raised 3% (Health Care Problems). Adequate income is a necessity and unfortunately that is not present. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the average annual premium across the country is $16,000. Currently, the average annual income in the United States is $51,107. Mint Money Management suggests that about 4-6% of one’s total income should be spent on insurance, including life, disability, and health insurance. However, the averages in the United States show that the average person spends about 31% of their income on health insurance, which is not financially beneficial. When this rise in health insurance is not parallel to the inflation of income, innocent people are left without a method to achieve health care. There is a program for those who can’t afford health insurance out of pocket nor have access to it, and that is called Medicaid. Issues still exist with the program. There is only so much funding, which leaves many still uninsured. Additionally, people with Medicaid have difficulty

In the United States, access to health care is largely determined by who has financing to receive insurance (Shi & Singh, 2013, p. 197) Financing for health care comes from many different entities. For most Americans who have health insurance through their employment, the employers pay a part of the insurance premium and employees pay the rest (Shi & Singh, 2013, p.

America is known for democracy, freedom, and the American Dream. American citizens have the right to free speech, free press, the right to bear arms, and the right to religious freedom to name a few. The Declaration of Independence states that American citizens have the rights including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” America promises equality and freedom and the protection of their rights as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. But with all the rights and freedoms that American citizens enjoy, there is one particular area where the United States seems to be lacking. That area is health care. The United States is the only industrialized nation that doesn’t have some form of legal

While I argue that health is a part of welfare, some people contend that as employed in the Constitution, promoting the general welfare, does not include the government providing healthcare for its citizens. Opponents further argue that the only other time the phrase “general welfare” appears in the Constitution besides the preamble is in Article 1. Section 8. Clause 1. This Clause states that, “the Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States” (law.cornell.edu). Now, regarding this clause, two things are apparent; one, that the United States government has a taxing and spending power and two, that this taxing and spending power extends to the general welfare of the people. Since the Constitution was signed in 1787, government money has been spent on social programs for the general welfare of the people. These programs include, but are not limited to; pell grants and other federal student loans, social security, veteran’s benefits (e.g. VA healthcare), supplemental security income (SSI), supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), women,

I strongly believe that all American citizens should be entitled free healthcare. This is due to that fact that this can play a big role of ensuring that there is an improved access to health services. In addition, ensuring that all American citizens have an access to the right health care will also decrease health care costs. For instance, by allowing people to receive regular and preventive medical care and not wait until they are persistently ill to request treatment when medical costs are much higher (Niles, 2011). In relation to this free health care will promote equal chance by decreasing the number of people who are economically deprived in society (Niles, 2011). This can be because of bad health and other medically-related financial problems.

This assistance program was instilled in 1965 and is the largest health program providing medical assistance to lower income individuals. In order for these individuals to qualify for Medicaid they must meet strict state requirements. Typically, those that are eligible for Medicaid services have to meet the welfare quote for age, blindness, disability or a membership in a family with dependent children where one parent is absent or incapacitates according to O’Sullivan. In this system flaws have been found where it “leaves out” those that are single, couples who are not elderly, or those that are

Medicaid provides a comprehensive benefit package for those who enroll. The federal government requires coverage of thirteen services, including inpatient and outpatient hospital services, nursing home and home health care, and for children under the age of twenty-one. The benefits do not end there, Medicaid offers a

I disagree with the analogy used by Wacasey (2017) which refers to individuals paying for health care as they pay for basic needs. The foundational commodities needed for survival are water, food and shelter. Health care is not a commodity, it is a necessity. It should not have to be earned as a privilege by individuals, instead it is the right of every individual. I understand the concern over the surmounting budget deficit the government faces, but if the government can afford to protect its citizens and fit these expenses into its budget, I believe more important than protection is our health. When individuals are not given their basic rights, “they may become reluctant to engage in health care and have less ability to

Access to preventive health care should not be definable as one of life’s luxuries, yet that is what is has come to be for the approximately “50 million Americans” who have no health insurance (Turka & Caplan, 2010). Clogged emergency rooms and “preventable deaths” are just two of the consequences associated with the lack of health insurance that would provide access to preventive care (Turka & Caplan, 2010). We as a nation are depriving our citizens of one of our most basic needs—being healthy.

Should the U.S. government provide free health care for all citizens? Free health care for all citizens, is a very controversial topic that has been debated for years. This debate concerns many pros and cons, such as “CNN reporting that 45,000 Americans are dying per year because they do not have access to health care because of costs.” According to research and statistics, majority of the people say that they agree with having free health care. Most people agreed because they believe it is the government’s job to help the ones that are in need. This paper will discuss why free health care is needed, what problems are caused by not providing free healthcare for all citizens, and the solutions that will benefit everyone.