Why Universal Health Care Is Important - Essay Sample

Introduction

Universal health care can be defined as a system that offers medical services to its people. Universal health care is meant to provide quality services to the people regardless of their ability to pay for the services. In the United States, the health care system is comprised of health insurance which includes Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare which is often equated to universal health care. Universal health care is structured to provide services to people without the risk of falling bankruptcy. Life is a fundamental human right. Therefore, it is essential for people to access health care services to foster healthy living. A lot of expenses are incurred due to medical emergencies which may lead to families to financial crises.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Why Is Universal Healthcare Important?

Universal health care is essential as it provides medical services even when they have been hit with medical emergencies. Through universal health care, the economy is strengthened by enhancing health security. With universal health care, governments can offer curative and preventive services which protect the citizens' health and their outcomes. When citizens are healthy, they can contribute to the social and economic development of a country. With universal health care, the standard of services provided is almost assured. The cost of providing health care is expensive for the governments. Access to health is a right to all citizens rather than a privilege. The access to universal health care should not always depend on the places you live or the amount of money one has. It should neither be depended on the age, gender or race but humanity. Universal health care has the capability of minimizing the effects of killer diseases. The marginalized and poor populations often suffer the most when struck by disease - for example, HIV/AIDS. The implementation of a universal health care system enhances safer, healthier and stronger communities and economies ("Opinion | 'Don't Get Too Excited' About Medicare for All," 2019). Universal health coverage is attainable. Most of the world countries have legislated and enacted policies that support Universal Health Coverage including some of the poorest countries. This show that the implementation of a health care system that provides quality services for all citizens is attainable.

Why Does the United States Not Have Universal Health Care?

Access to health care services is a fundamental human right. Even with the recent trend where countries have adopted a universal health care system, the United States of America remains to be the only developed country that does not offer universal health care to its citizens. Before the Obama Care, up to 40 million of the American citizens did not have access to health insurance. Lack of access to health care could mean a financial crisis to a family if faced by a medical emergency. However, with the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the number reduced to nearly 28 million. Before the Affordable Care Act, patients often suffered because of lack of insurance which could provide services for medical emergencies. Inequalities in the health care system led to the rise in the rise of medical care cost. The single payer system involves the government collecting taxes and paying for the health care bills as some of the governors campaigned on a single payer plan which would include the control rates and services.

However once elected the politicians backed off as the cost is too high ("Opinion | Can States Fix the Disaster of American Health Care?", 2019). The health care system in the country, however, cares for the poor, old and ex-military people who cater for less than half of the population in the country. The United States doesn't have a universal health care system because of the political influence the legislative process. In the US most of the legislation is influenced by politics in the country. Due to its divided nature between the republicans and democrats the state is unable to support and pass legislation that will be needed to support universal health care. For instance, governors who run for office often use the slogan of Medicare for all, and after the election, they lay low as they see universal health care to be very expensive. The country is big which will make it difficult to organize a reliable and standard universal health care system. However, the system has worked in countries with a higher population than the US, for instance, China and Russia.

The health care system in the country is vested with people with individual interests. The United States spends nearly 20% of its GDP on health care which is more than what other countries spend. Given that many people in the county from the existing health care system including doctors, insurance companies, pharmaceutical corporations, and hospitals. The individual interest of the people that are involved in the health care system impact the success of universal health care in the country. The US can only afford to offer universal health care services to all its citizens by cutting on costs. To fund the universal health care system, it will require the country to confront those who benefit from the current health care system. The vibrant diversity in the US has fostered the absence of a strong universal health care system in the country ("Opinion | 'Don't Get Too Excited' About Medicare for All," 2019). Over century workers both in European countries and in America pressed for insurance and pensions. However, the workers in the European countries were often homogenous and united in the battle as compared to the United States where it has become difficult to mobilize people to work together to attain the same outcome.

In countries where solidarity exists, universal health care works better. In a system where people feel they are the same, it becomes easier for universal health care to work. But it is not the case with the US. The cultural diversity and its size divide the country especially over the race which makes it difficult for all Americans to regard themselves as same to their fellow country people. Although Obamacare faced challenges and was flawed, it was a step taken towards attaining universal health care for all citizens.

The Political Effect on the Health Care System

Ideologies and public relations play a significant role in the conception and implementation of public policies including policies that touch on health care. People's opinions are dependent on the political side which they identify with themselves. The Democrats often perceive more challenges in the health care system as compared to the Republicans. In the United States, the Democrats regard and recognize the problem in the health care sector ("Opinion | Can States Fix the Disaster of American Health Care?", 2019). Affordable Care Acts put an emphasis and influenced the elections in the county. The reelection of the former president Obama enabled more straightforward implementation of Obamacare which could have otherwise be thrown away had the election challenger won.

The government regulation view contributes to the overall differences of opinion on the health care system. People's perceptions of the regulations explain the differences between the republicans and the democrats. Universal health coverage discussion is rallying in the debate on health policy. Political consensus can only be achieved if politics and governance are recognized to be dependent. A comprehensive health care coverage brings democratic political accountability. The democratization gives cause to expand the health care coverage. Governance is essential in the implementation of decisions which plays a critical role in the strive for universal health care.

References

Opinion | 'Don't Get Too Excited' About Medicare for All. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/19/opinion/sunday/medicare-single-payer-health-care.htmlOpinion | Can States

Fix the Disaster of American Health Care?. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/16/opinion/california-states-health-care.html