Universal Health Care

Katherine Stangby

ENGL 1020

11/2/11

Our Mothers’ cannot be the Only Ones

Looking after us when we are Ill

The lack of access to health care plans for United States citizens is one of our nations biggest social problems and concerns. “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane,” (Martin Luther King Jr). Everyone should be able to obtain treatment or help from a certified doctor without worrying about how they will pay for it. “One-third of adults (31 percent) and more than half of children (54 percent) do not have a primary care doctor” (National Medical Expenditure Panel Survey). Some are even worrying if they will go bankrupt just from a simple visit to a doctor. “Over half of bankruptcies filed in America are because people are unable to pay their medical bills” (Umang Malhotra). America denies access to health care if you cannot pay; with universal health care everyone has access to the proper care. Too many Americans are underinsured or not insured at all due to The United States unsuccessful health care plan. Health care in the US is operated by private sectors. Insurance is becoming more public with things like Medicare, Medicaid etc. But is still costing citizens and The United States an incredible amount of money. All uninsured or underinsured Americans are affected by this unsuccessful plan. The citizens of America have a right to basic health security and financial sustainability and are entitled to Universal Health Care. To solve the American health care crisis we must make all health care free, and transition into universal health care.

It does not make any sense that we, The United States of America, are one of the wealthiest nations in the world, yet we cannot help keep our citizens healthy and well. The US is the only industrialized country that does not guarantee health coverage to all of its citizens (abcnews.com). The citizens of America will not be able to live this way and sustain these health care finances much longer. People will either be under-covered by insurance companies or not even insured at all. Because of the increasing price of health care, which is rising faster than the rate of economic growth, there has been an increase in death rates, infant immortality rates, death by disease, decrease in life expectancy rate and bankruptcy (Malhotra). These Statistics and problems would not

be present if America had Universal Health Care. Despite the fact that America has some of the best-trained doctors and health care providers, the US still has statistics of death rates that can compare to some third world countries. With universal health care coverage people will be more likely to have and open successful businesses and be more financially stable. It would also help those get insured who already are ill or are on their way to recovery. Those who have and can afford health care already as it is may see no need for a change in The United States health care plan; but that is a very small percent. Also people benefiting somehow, maybe financially would cause someone to not want change. More than half of the population cannot afford the plan the US has right now. If we want these negative and awful statistics to change, America must have universal health care.

This problem with health care can be solved very easily, universal health care.

Like Canada, which has a brilliant and successful health care plan, that mostly all of their citizens are happy with, health care must be a publically funded system. Some may not want universal health care because they think it would be too expensive, when in fact that is not true; The United States spends more on health care than Canada, a country with universal health care. It needs to be paid by funding and income taxes. The US spends a ridiculous amount on health care when there is a very simple solution that can be affordable for everyone. Some may also think that they will not get the proper health care they need or desire, but everyone gets the same level of health care. With universal health care comes more doctor and hospital visits. Information must remain private, only known by the patient and doctor, not the government. The insurer and doctors can handle the billing between each other, without the patient. There would be no deductibles on basic health care and little or no co-pays. Universal health care is perfect for those who cannot afford insurance now, or are underinsured.

The path to universal health care for the United States would resemble any other country that transitioned into a single payer system. The people have a right to health care; so universal health care would be included in the Bill of Rights. Having health care is a non –negotiable right for the people so it would have to be proposed as an amendment by congress. It would take a few years, but the people need to pursue this amendment and put pressure on congress to do what is best for the people. People would apply or enroll for health care and receive a card, which would allow everyone to get free, and the same level of care. It would be paid for publically through funding and income taxes. There would be more community health care centers and health records

would be more up to date and more easily accessed. Everyone who is under or not covered at all will be affected by this bill and would have a healthier life and a piece of mind.

Out of any industrialized country in the world, the United States has the lowest satisfaction of health care. Something drastically needs to be done about the health care system we have in place now. Too many citizens are under- covered or not insured at all. America is spending too much on health care when it could simply save money by transitioning over. This process would take years and may be a little sloppy but the nation could begin to transition and fill in the holes and fix problems along the way.

Works Cited

"Fast Facts on the U.S. Health Care Crisis - ABC News." ABCNews.com: Daily News, Breaking News and Video Broadcasts - ABC News. 16 Oct. 2006. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. .

Lane, William R. The Health Care Crisis in the United States-My Vision for a Better Future. 36-38. Web. .

Malhotra, Umang. "Summary." Solving the American Health Care Crisis Simply Common Sense. Iuniverse, 2009. Print.

Messerli, Joe. "BalancedPolitics.org - Universal Health Care (Pros & Cons, Arguments For and Against, Advantages & Disadvantages)." BalancedPolitics.org - Free Balanced, Non-Partisan Discussion of Political & Social Issues for Debate (Pros and Cons - Decision Making Politics). Web. 14 Nov. 2011. .