free health care vs paid health care essay

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Single-Payer Healthcare vs. Universal Coverage

Pros and Cons
Challenges in the U.S.
Around the World

Frequently Asked Questions

Healthcare reform has been a topic of debate in the United States for decades. Two terms often used to discuss it are "universal healthcare coverage" and "single-payer" system. Yet "single-payer" as a definition doesn't always offer clarity when describing specific policy proposals.

Although it's often used to describe "Medicare for All" plans, or refer to a type of socialized health care, the truth is that it does not have a one-size-fits-all meaning. Single-payer systems generally include universal coverage, but many countries have achieved universal coverage without a single-payer system.

This article delves into what the two terms mean, including their similarities. It offers some examples of how these healthcare delivery systems are implemented around the world.

Verywell / Laura Porter

Pros and Cons of Universal vs. Single-Payer System

Universal coverage refers to a healthcare system where every individual has health coverage. This can be accomplished under a government-run health coverage system, a private health insurance system, or a combination of the two.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 28 million people in the U.S. who had no health insurance coverage in 2020. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 has extended coverage to millions of people. But the U.S. does not have the sort of universal coverage provided in many other developed countries.

Single-Payer System

A single-payer system is one in which the government is responsible for paying healthcare claims, using money collected via the tax system. The government is the only "single payer." This is true in at least 17 countries, including Japan, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Italy, and Iceland.

Single-payer systems can be implemented without covering the entire population. A country can have one or more single-payer programs and still not achieve universal coverage. This is true of the U.S., with its combination of single-payer coverage for some people, private coverage for others, and tens of millions of people who have no coverage at all.

In the U.S., Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration are examples of single-payer systems.

Medicaid is sometimes referred to as a single-payer system, but it is actually jointly funded by the federal government and each state government. Although it's a form of government-funded health coverage, the funding comes from two sources rather than one.

Many people are covered under employer-sponsored or self-purchased health plans in the U.S., including those sold on the health insurance exchanges . This means hundreds of private insurance companies are paying their members' claims, and are not part of a government single-payer system.

It's important to understand that while the ACA-created exchange/marketplace in each state is a government-run enrollment platform, the health plans available through the exchange are offered by private health insurance companies. If you buy a health plan through the exchange, you do not have government-run coverage.

But the exchanges in some states also allow people to enroll in Medicaid if they meet the eligibility guidelines, and Medicaid is a form of government-run health coverage. (In most states, the exchange, including the federally-run HealthCare.gov platform, refers eligible applicants to the Medicaid program, rather than enrolling them directly.)

Two-Tier Systems: Public Plans and Private Coverage

In most cases, universal coverage and a single-payer system go together: The country's government is the entity that administers and pays for a healthcare system that covers its entire population.

However, countries like Canada and France operate two-tier systems that provide basic care via a single-payer system. Secondary private coverage is available for those who can afford a higher standard of care.

This is similar to Medigap policies sold to people covered under Original Medicare in the U.S. Many people with Original Medicare rely on supplemental coverage to cover out-of-pocket costs.

What Is Original Medicare?

Original Medicare is comprised of Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient care, and Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient/physician services. Most Medicare enrollees get Part A without a premium, but there's a monthly premium for Part B. There is no cap on out-of-pocket costs with Original Medicare, which is why it's so important to also have supplemental coverage that will pay some or all of the out-of-pocket costs.

Socialized Medicine

Socialized medicine is another phrase that is often used in conversations about universal coverage, but this model actually takes the single-payer system one step further. In a socialized medicine system, the government not only pays for health care but operates the hospitals and employs the medical staff.

A country can adopt a single-payer approach, meaning the government pays for medical care, without fully embracing socialized medicine.

In the U.S., the Veterans Administration (VA) system is an example of socialized medicine, but Medicare is not.

The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom is an example of a system in which the government pays for services and also owns the hospitals and employs the doctors.

But in Canada, which also has a single-payer system with universal coverage, the hospitals are privately operated and doctors are not employed by the government. They simply bill the government for the services they provide, much like the American Medicare program.

The main barrier to any socialized medicine system is the government's ability to effectively fund, manage, and update its standards, equipment, and practices to offer optimal health care.

Challenges in the United States

Some experts have suggested that the U.S. should incrementally reform its current health care system to provide a government-funded safety net for the sick and the poor.

In some ways, the approach is similar to a broader application of the ACA's Medicaid expansion adopted in most— but not all —states. It would mean that healthier, more affluent Americans would still need to purchase their own policies.

It is possible to have a U.S. single-payer system without also having universal health coverage. This has remained unlikely because the federal government would need to be the single-payer.

The political will in the U.S. has not favored a system in which an individual citizen would be excluded from health coverage in this way, or reached a consensus on whether healthcare should be "free."

Political gridlock over the Affordable Care Act in the U.S. limits how such a proposal might gain enough support for legislation to be enacted. It is technically possible to construct such a system, which would provide universal coverage while also having multiple payers.

A number of U.S. legislators have called for the establishment of "Medicare for All," a proposal introduced by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont during his presidential campaigns. For example, there were 121 cosponsors of the Medicare for All Act of 2021 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The term "Medicare for All" is often used to describe a program under which the U.S. government would provide coverage to all American citizens. What different proposals have in common is that they would offer more robust coverage than the current Medicare program provides.

Although opponents of "Medicare for All" proposals typically label them as socialized healthcare, none of the recent U.S. proposals actually rely on or incorporate socialized medicine.

Health Coverage Around the World

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) includes 38 member countries. Most of them have achieved 100% coverage, with their populations served through the benefits of universal healthcare.

In 2021, the OECD reported that 90% of the U.S. population was eligible for core healthcare services. This is lower than the OECD average of 98% among its member nations.

According to recent U.S. Census data, less than 92% of the U.S. population was insured in 2020. The U.S. is near the bottom of the OECD countries in terms of the percentage of its residents with health coverage, but it also spends far more of its GDP on health care than any of the other member countries.

Various countries have achieved universal or near-universal coverage in different ways.

Germany has universal coverage but does not operate a single-payer system. Instead, everyone living in Germany is required to maintain health coverage. Most employees in Germany are automatically enrolled in one of more than 100 nonprofit "sickness funds," paid for by a combination of employee and employer contributions.

Alternatively, there are private health insurance plans available, but only about 10% of German residents choose private health insurance.

Singapore has universal coverage, and large health care expenses are covered (after a deductible) by a government-run insurance system called MediShield. But Singapore also requires everyone to contribute 4% to 10.5% of their income to a MediSave account.

When patients need routine medical care, they can take money out of their MediSave accounts to pay for it, but the money can only be used for certain expenses, such as medications on a government-approved list.

In Singapore, the government directly subsidizes health care rather than insurance costs. This contrasts with the more costly U.S. approach of subsidizing health insurance premiums with tax credits (obtained via the exchange/marketplace ) and tax deductions for employer-sponsored health insurance premiums.

Japan has universal coverage but does not use a single-payer system. Coverage is mainly provided via thousands of competing health insurance plans in the Statutory Health Insurance System (SHIS).

Residents are required to enroll in coverage and pay ongoing premiums for SHIS coverage, but there is also an option to buy private, supplemental health insurance.

Japan's less burdensome single-payer model (rather than the separate government, private, and government-linked private health insurance mechanisms used in the U.S.), makes it easier to streamline their national healthcare delivery.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is an example of a country with universal coverage and a single-payer system. Technically speaking, the U.K. model can also be classified as socialized medicine.

Funding for the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) comes from tax revenue. Residents can purchase private health insurance if they choose. It can be used for elective procedures in private hospitals or to gain faster access to care, without the waiting period that might otherwise be imposed for non-emergency situations.

Universal coverage refers to any approach that ensures that all of a country's residents (in most cases, only those who are legally present in the country) have health coverage. The coverage can be provided under a government-run program or a system of private health insurance or a combination of the two.

Single-payer health coverage refers to a system in which one entity pays for residents' medical services. In most cases, the payer will be the country's government, using funds collected via taxes.

In the U.S., Medicare and the VA system are both examples of single-payer health coverage, as they're funded by the federal government. But the U.S. does not have universal coverage, nor does it have a single-payer system available to all residents.

A Word From Verywell

It's common for the terms single-payer and universal coverage to be conflated. Keep in mind that single-payer means there's just a single entity paying for medical care, usually a country's government. Universal coverage means that all of the country's citizens (or all legal residents, depending on the country) have coverage, whether through public or private systems, or both.

Taxes would increase but most U.S. citizens would see a net savings because of eliminated medical costs. Estimates vary, depending on the model proposal and underlying political position. Plans also would impact gross domestic product (GDP) and the economy overall.

The Affordable Care Act requires people to be "lawfully present" in the U.S. in order to enroll in a health plan through the exchange/marketplace. Documented immigrants and others with lawfully-present immigration status, including refugees, can enroll in health coverage through the exchange, and can receive income-based subsidies. Undocumented immigrants cannot use the exchange under ACA rules, but some states have started creating pathways for undocumented immigrants to obtain affordable health coverage.

Yes, there are brokers, Navigators, and enrollment assisters throughout the country who can help you understand your health coverage options and enroll in the plan that best meets your need. The Navigator role was specifically created the ACA legislation.

Liu JL, Brook RH. What is Single-Payer Health Care? A Review of Definitions and Proposals in the U.S . J Gen Intern Med . 2017 Jul;32(7):822-831. doi:10.1007/s11606-017-4063-5

Keisler-Starkey, Katherine; Bunch, Lisa N. U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports. Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2020 .

World Population Review. Countries With Single Payer .

Cubanski, Juliette; Damico, Anthony; Neuman, Tricia; Jacobson, Gretchen. Kaiser Family Foundation. Sources of Supplemental Coverage Among Medicare Beneficiaries in 2016 .

The Commonwealth Fund. International Health Care System Profiles: England .

The Commonwealth Fund. International Health Care System Profiles: Canada .

Congress.gov. H.R. 1976 - Medicare for all act of 2021 .

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Health at a Glance .

All About Berlin. Public and private health insurance in Germany: how to choose?

Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Compulsory and Voluntary Medisave Contributions .

Zhang X, Oyama T. Investigating the health care delivery system in Japan and reviewing the local public hospital reform . Risk Manag Healthc Policy . 2016;9:21–32. doi:10.2147/RMHP.S93285

United Kingdom, National Health Service. An Introduction to the NHS .

Congressional Budget Office. Economic Effects of Five Illustrative Single-Payer Health Care Systems .

Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA. What immigrants and refugees need to know about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) .

Norris, Louise. healthinsurance.org. How are states making efforts to provide health coverage to undocumented immigrants?

Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute. 42 U.S. Code § 18031 - Affordable choices of health benefit plans .

By Kelly Montgomery Kelly Montgomery, JD, is a health policy expert and former policy analyst for the American Diabetes Association.

[email protected]

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free health care vs paid health care essay

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Economic Policy

US Health Care vs. Countries with Universal Healthcare

Published by ‍

Dhruv Gupta

June 21, 2021

Inquiry-driven, this article reflects personal views, aiming to enrich problem-related discourse.

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Article content

The debate about health care is one of the most important and contentious in the current political climate, being ranked second in the list of important voting issues of the 2020 presidential election, per surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center . America remains one of the only developed nations to not provide its residents with universal health care, much to the chagrin of leading Democrats such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who advocated for the vast expansion of Medicare to cover all people as part of their primary challenges. In the end, the more moderate Joe Biden secured both the Democtartic presidential bid and the presidency, running on a platform centered around setting up a public option, slightly expanding Medicare coverage, and enforcing regulations on the private sector. Neither of their policies, however, are perfect, nor are they the only possible solutions. The health care policy debate is a multifaceted issue with other countries finding various innovative solutions, all of which America can take some inspiration from.

Of the 92 percent of Americans covered for all or part of 2019, approximately 68 percent were covered through the private sector and 34.1 percent obtained coverage from the public sector. The private sector includes individuals or organizations providing health care or supplying insurance not directly owned or controlled by the government. Everyone is eligible for coverage under the private sector, and 49% of Americans get private health care from their employers. The public sector , on the other hand, encompasses organizations or insurance plans provided and/or controlled by the government. This consists of the government-funded health insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, which only certain individuals are eligible for. This system is strewn with issues and requires change immediately.

American healthcare, simply put, is too expensive . Evidence suggests that having insurance lowers mortality; nearly 10% of Americans do not have health insurance due to its unaffordability. The high prices come from an array of places, with one of the largest contributors being the staggering administrative costs. Due to America’s extremely complex multi-payer system with seperate plans from seperate providers with separate coverage, deductibles and premiums, 8% of health care costs go toward administrative costs.

Further burdening the system is the rigid pharmaceutical industry, which offers drugs at continuously rising prices. On average, Americans spend four times as much as their counterparts in other industrialized countries on pharmaceutical drugs due to the low amount of regulation. Fee-for-service transactions also play a large part in the costs of the system. Each procedure or prescription has a seperate cost; health care providers often do more than needed to charge patients extra. Apart from just providing extra unnecessary service, hospitals will also charge you more for them! A procedure that costs $6,390 in the Netherlands and $7,370 in Switzerland costs $32,230 in the United States. Lastly, this system is not ready for the future. America has an unhealthy population and does not have a strong enough healthcare system to compensate; the lifespan of the average American is three years less than that of a Briton.

The two most prominent health care reform plans have both been proposed by Democrats. “Medicare for All,” the plan endorsed by Sanders and Warren, would drastically change the current system. It would create a single-payer national health insurance program to provide all Americans with comprehensive health care coverage, free of charge. There would be no premiums, deductibles, co-pays, or surprise bills. It would also cap the price of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate with large companies and completely abolish the private sector of health insurance. This plan would ensure coverage for all Amricans while also providing them with the same quality of service at lower prices. However, analysts believe the government will not be able to negotiate down prices as steeply as Sanders predicted. This plan would also drive up the usage of health care, as people will not be as careful with their health without financial incentives to do so. Other Democrats like Biden have suggested to build upon the current systems in healthcare through the “Public Option” plan. It would set up a public option similar to Medicare that anyone could buy into and expand Medicare coverage to 60- to 65-year-olds. It would also regulate the private sector, capping individual healthcare premiums at 8.5% of income, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers, banning surprise medical bills for procedures that require out-of-network hospital care, and ensuring coverage for pre-existing conditions. This plan would also assure that all Americans are insured, while also allowing those who like their current insurance plan to keep it if they can afford to do so. However, private insurers believe that they would not be able to compete with the cheaper public option, and it would be expensive to immediately cover the 8.5% of uninsured Americans on a plan that not everyone is joining.

If either of these policies were to be implemented, America would join the majority of developed countries offering coverage to all their residents. Countries such as France, Germany, Switzerland, and Canada have all adopted some form of universal health care, each with their own unique components and advantages. One constant between all four nations however, is that the average life expectancy of their citizens is over two years longer than that of the United States’.

French health care is a single-payer system that is both universal and compulsory, with the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) providing coverage for citizens. The system is paid for by payroll taxes, income taxes, taxes on tobacco and alcohol, and the pharmaceutical sector. The SHI reimburses health care providers for 70 to 80% of their fees, with patients paying the remaining fee out of pocket. French residents pay more income taxes than Americans for SHI, but they pay far less in out-of-pocket costs. France has a longer life expectancy and lower infant mortality rate than America. In addition, 56% of the French population could get a same-day or next-day appointment when sick, as opposed to only 51% in the United States in 2014. That year, only 17% of the French population experienced an affordability barrier, compared to 33% of the United States population.

Switzerland boasts a highly decentralized universal health care system, with cantons, which are similar to American states, in charge of its operation. The system is paid for by enrollee premiums, state taxes, social insurance contributions, and out-of-pocket payments. Swiss residents are required to purchase basic coverage from private nonprofit insurers, which covers physician visits, hospital care, pharmaceuticals, home care, medical services for long-term care, etc. Supplemental insurance can also be purchased, securing a greater choice of physicians and accommodations. Switzerland has lower government spending per capita on healthcare than America, with every resident covered.

Healthcare in Canada is free-of-charge and universal, with the coverage being funded by provincial and federal taxes; estimates find that health care costs approximately $5,789 annually per person. There is no federal plan; each province creates their own health care plan that must abide by the guidelines set by the Canadian Health Act. While Canadian universal health care covers most procedures and costs, some health care services require cost-sharing such as vision care, dental care, and ambulances. Private insurance can also be purchased in Canada to help with these costs, and 2/3 of Canadians have some form of private insurance.

Germany has a universal multi-payer health care system with statutory health insurance for all of those under a salary level and private insurance for all above that level who choose to purchase their own. The German health care system is financed mostly by employees and employers, with employees donating 7.5% of their salary into a public health insurance pool and employers matching that donation. In this system, those who can afford to pay more will pay more, while those who can’t pay less. Everyone has equal access to healthcare, and the system imposes strict limits on out-of-pocket costs, further protecting their people.

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Free Healthcare in the United States: A Possible Solution to Public Health Disparities

Nov 23, 2020 | Author Hala Atassi , Public Health Policy

Access to healthcare is one of the remarkable indicators that defines the quality of people’s lives. Despite the thousands of advanced technologies and countless healthcare clinics and hospitals, many people still cannot afford healthcare or health insurance. This has been a global concern for years, which many countries have resolved. However, the United States has yet to significantly progress towards making healthcare more accessible to low-income communities. There are many solutions to this problem that can be implemented today, upon which millions of suffering Americans depend.

Some studies have shown over the years that expensive health care is due to the high cost of defensive medicine, or in other words, physicians ordering expensive tests that may be unnecessary, as a way to deflect legal responsibility from themselves. Deviating from defensive medicine in the healthcare industry might impact physicians economically, but more importantly, it will help achieve affordable healthcare.

Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act of 2010) is one program that focuses on extending healthcare to Americans and reducing public health disparities. This program lays down a foundation that people under the age of 26 will receive accessible care from their parent or guardian’s health care plans. Afterward, they must pay for their health care plan. Also, the program stipulates that the government provides free healthcare to retired adults from age 55 to 64, to avoid any insurance plan complications. Essentially, Obamacare seeks to expand access to healthcare care, regardless of the scale of one’s medical diagnosis, to ultimately save lives that would have been lost due to the inability to pay expensive medical bills.

Easier access to healthcare will result in a healthier nation. The healthcare system is one of the most important components in life, as the United States’ economy cannot be fully efficient and benefit all people until everyone can access quality, affordable healthcare. Free healthcare (or at least cheaper healthcare) would be the most effective system for America, which other countries like Switzerland and Singapore have demonstrated. The money spent by citizens on their healthcare could be redirected to other social support systems in America, like expanding access to nutritious foods as well. Although free healthcare has many perks, it also has disadvantages. Most notably, overloading health services with a large number of patients would overwhelm already busy healthcare systems. Patients may overuse the perk of free healthcare, leaving not taxpayers to suffer, but rather medical professionals and healthcare systems. Even so, the perceptible advantages of affordable healthcare outweigh the disadvantages. As it is, years of attempts to ameliorate the United States healthcare system have failed the American people, and the situation remains devastating and life-threatening for low-income communities. There should be no debate though as to whether America needs to redesign the public health system, as healthcare is a human right, and nobody should be dying because they cannot afford to live, especially when the government has the economic means to take care of them.

Bibliography:

Gerisch, Mary. “Health Care As a Human Right.” American Bar Association , www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/the-state-of-healthcare-in-the-united-states/health-care-as-a-human-right/.

“Free Health Care Policies.” World Health Organization , World Health Organization, 2020, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/free-health-care-policies.

Gologorsky, Beverly. “Health Care in the US Should Be Affordable and Accessible.” The Nation , 9 May 2019, www.thenation.com/article/archive/tom-dispatch-health-care-should-be-affordable-and-accessible/.

Luhby, Tami. “Here’s How Obamacare Has Changed America.” CNN , Cable News Network, 8 July 2019, www.cnn.com/2019/07/08/politics/obamacare-how-it-has-changed-america/index.html.

Healthcare Thesis Statement: Examples of Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons

Every citizen of every country in the world should be provided with free and high-quality medical services. Health care is a fundamental need for every human, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status.

Universal health care is the provision of healthcare services by a government to all its citizens (insurancespecialists.com). This means each citizen can access medical services of standard quality. In the United States, about 25% of its citizens are provided with healthcare funded by the government. These citizens mainly comprise the elderly, the armed forces personnel, and the poor (insurancespecialists.com).

Introduction

Thesis statement.

Universal Healthcare Pros
Universal Healthcare Cons

Works Cited

In Russia, Canada, and some South American and European countries, the governments provide universal healthcare programs to all citizens. In the United States, the segments of society which do not receive health care services provided by the government usually pay for their health care coverage. This has emerged as a challenge, especially for middle-class citizens. Therefore, the universal health care provision in the United States is debatable: some support it, and some oppose it. This assignment is a discussion of the topic. It starts with a thesis statement, then discusses the advantages of universal health care provision, its disadvantages, and a conclusion, which restates the thesis and the argument behind it.

The government of the United States of America should provide universal health care services to its citizens because health care is a basic necessity to every citizen, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status.

Universal Healthcare Provision Pros

The provision of universal health care services would ensure that doctors and all medical practitioners focus their attention only on treating the patients, unlike in the current system, where doctors and medical practitioners sped a lot of time pursuing issues of health care insurance for their patients, which is sometimes associated with malpractice and violation of medical ethics especially in cases where the patient is unable to adequately pay for his or her health care bills (balancedpolitics.org).

The provision of universal health care services would also make health care service provision in the United States more efficient and effective. In the current system in which each citizen pays for his or her health care, there is a lot of inefficiency, brought about by the bureaucratic nature of the public health care sector (balancedpolitics.org).

Universal health care would also promote preventive health care, which is crucial in reducing deaths as well as illness deterioration. The current health care system in the United States is prohibitive of preventive health care, which makes many citizens to wait until their illness reach critical conditions due to the high costs of going for general medical check-ups. The cost of treating patients with advanced illnesses is not only expensive to the patients and the government but also leads to deaths which are preventable (balancedpolitics.org).

The provision of universal health care services would be a worthy undertaking, especially due to the increased number of uninsured citizens, which currently stands at about 45 million (balancedpolitics.org).

The provision of universal health care services would therefore promote access to health care services to as many citizens as possible, which would reduce suffering and deaths of citizens who cannot cater for their health insurance. As I mentioned in the thesis, health care is a basic necessity to all citizens and therefore providing health care services to all would reduce inequality in the service access.

Universal health care would also come at a time when health care has become seemingly unaffordable for many middle income level citizens and business men in the United States. This has created a nation of inequality, which is unfair because every citizen pays tax, which should be used by the government to provide affordable basic services like health care. It should be mentioned here that the primary role of any government is to protect its citizens, among other things, from illness and disease (Shi and Singh 188).

Lastly not the least, the provision of universal health care in the United States would work for the benefit of the country and especially the doctors because it would create a centralized information centre, with database of all cases of illnesses, diseases and their occurrence and frequency. This would make it easier to diagnose patients, especially to identify any new strain of a disease, which would further help in coming up with adequate medication for such new illness or disease (balancedpolitics.org).

Universal Healthcare Provision Cons

One argument against the provision of universal health care in the United States is that such a policy would require enormous spending in terms of taxes to cater for the services in a universal manner. Since health care does not generate extra revenue, it would mean that the government would either be forced to cut budgetary allocations for other crucial sectors of general public concern like defense and education, or increase the taxes levied on the citizens, thus becoming an extra burden to the same citizens (balancedpolitics.org).

Another argument against the provision of universal health care services is that health care provision is a complex undertaking, involving varying interests, likes and preferences.

The argument that providing universal health care would do away with the bureaucratic inefficiency does not seem to be realistic because centralizing the health care sector would actually increase the bureaucracy, leading to further inefficiencies, especially due to the enormous number of clientele to be served. Furthermore, it would lead to lose of business for the insurance providers as well as the private health care practitioners, majority of whom serve the middle income citizens (balancedpolitics.org).

Arguably, the debate for the provision of universal health care can be seen as addressing a problem which is either not present, or negligible. This is because there are adequate options for each citizen to access health care services. Apart from the government hospitals, the private hospitals funded by non-governmental organizations provide health care to those citizens who are not under any medical cover (balancedpolitics.org).

Universal health care provision would lead to corruption and rent seeking behavior among policy makers. Since the services would be for all, and may sometimes be limited, corruption may set in making the medical practitioners even more corrupt than they are because of increased demand of the services. This may further lead to deterioration of the very health care sector the policy would be aiming at boosting through such a policy.

The provision of universal health care would limit the freedom of the US citizens to choose which health care program is best for them. It is important to underscore that the United States, being a capitalist economy is composed of people of varying financial abilities.

The provision of universal health care would therefore lower the patients’ flexibility in terms of how, when and where to access health care services and why. This is because such a policy would throw many private practitioners out of business, thus forcing virtually all citizens to fit in the governments’ health care program, which may not be good for everyone (Niles 293).

Lastly not the least, the provision of universal health care would be unfair to those citizens who live healthy lifestyles so as to avoid lifestyle diseases like obesity and lung cancer, which are very common in America. Many of the people suffering from obesity suffer due to their negligence or ignorance of health care advice provided by the government and other health care providers. Such a policy would therefore seem to unfairly punish those citizens who practice good health lifestyles, at the expense of the ignorant (Niles 293).

After discussing the pros and cons of universal health care provision in the United States, I restate my thesis that “The government of United States of America should provide universal health care to its citizens because health care is a basic necessity to every citizen, regardless of age, sex, race, religion, and socio economic status”, and argue that even though there are arguments against the provision of universal health care, such arguments, though valid, are not based on the guiding principle of that health care is a basic necessity to all citizens of the United States.

The arguments are also based on capitalistic way of thinking, which is not sensitive to the plight of many citizens who are not able to pay for their insurance health care cover.

The idea of providing universal health care to Americans would therefore save many deaths and unnecessary suffering by many citizens. Equally important to mention is the fact that such a policy may be described as a win win policy both for the rich and the poor or middle class citizens because it would not in any way negatively affect the rich, because as long as they have money, they would still be able to customize their health care through the employment family or personal doctors as the poor and the middle class go for the universal health care services.

Balanced politics. “Should the Government Provide Free Universal Health Care for All Americans?” Balanced politics: universal health . Web. Balanced politics.org. 8 august https://www.balancedpolitics.org/universal_health_care.htm

Insurance specialists. “Growing Support for Universal Health Care”. Insurance information portal. Web. Insurance specialists.com 8 august 2011. https://insurancespecialists.com/

Niles, Nancy. Basics of the U.S. Health Care System . Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2010:293. Print.

Shi, Leiyu and Singh, Douglas. Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach . Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2004:188. Print.

Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, February 18). Healthcare Thesis Statement: Examples of Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pros-and-cons-of-universal-health-care-provision-in-the-united-states/

"Healthcare Thesis Statement: Examples of Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons." IvyPanda , 18 Feb. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/pros-and-cons-of-universal-health-care-provision-in-the-united-states/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Healthcare Thesis Statement: Examples of Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons'. 18 February.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Healthcare Thesis Statement: Examples of Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons." February 18, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pros-and-cons-of-universal-health-care-provision-in-the-united-states/.

1. IvyPanda . "Healthcare Thesis Statement: Examples of Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons." February 18, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pros-and-cons-of-universal-health-care-provision-in-the-united-states/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Healthcare Thesis Statement: Examples of Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons." February 18, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pros-and-cons-of-universal-health-care-provision-in-the-united-states/.

Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion Pros & Cons
The Pros and Cons of Using Pie Charts in Healthcare
A Company Having Healthcare Insurance for Workers: Pros and Cons
Substandard Patient Care or Health Care Delivery
Health Care Communication Methods
Hospice and Pain Management
Evolution of Hospice Care
Home Based and Community Based Services (HCBS)

Health Care: Should It Be For Free or Should We Pay For Our Treatment?

For several years, there has been debate over whether or not it is wise to have people responsible for any or more of their medical services. The challenge of saving individuals from the risk of medical bills while simultaneously trying to provide doctors, hospitals, and other medical services with resources for product development is at the heart of the issue. Free medical care offers the best cost security, but it also provides the smallest motivation for efficient production. Various innovations, such as indemnity insurance, can increase hospital incentives to produce efficiently. However, such instruments may be inefficient since they are not commonly used.

The Right to Free Health care

The free health care demand is based on the assumption that health care is a humanitarian right that we should not deny to anyone. Since it is a right, just like life, liberty, and happiness, the government should support it.

This right to free health cover, however, is a self-defeating argument. This is because everyone has the right to keep the fruits of their labor. As a result, no one has the right to free food, clothes, or health care. This is because someone must produce these goods. As a result, giving them away for free is an infringement on the rights of those who produce them. Physicians and surgeons have human rights in the same way as patients do. Suppose the government asked them to offer services for free. Then it would is an infringement on their right to earn a living.

Similarly, when governments begin taxing one person to support the health care of the other, they are simply transferring the fruits of one man’s labor to another. People may voluntarily contribute to their countrymen’s illness. Forcing people to sacrifice a percentage of their income is morally wrong.

As a result, no one has a valid right to free health care. Politicians made these are simply statements to expand the scope of government to gather more tax dollars. Once they have these tax dollars, they invest some of them in hospitals while embezzling some of them to create private wealth. Nationalized health care is a scam that we must avoid at all costs.

Advantages of Free Health care

According to Galambos (2018), universal health care plans are critical for countries to reduce health care costs. They give the government power over the medication process as well as negotiations. There are no administrative costs associated with dealing with private health insurers. So a single centralized government department may easily deal with physicians for quick solutions.

The public can receive standardized care to ensure equal treatment from the available institutions. The government’s plan will provide all people who need it with access to available resources. Most importantly, unless the government approves, medication prices would stay low and unchanged. Other competitive conditions, such as the United States plan, focus on the most recent technologies to attract coincidence in patients.

Children who receive adequate health care are more likely to avoid future social costs. As a result, the government will save money in the long run. Thus, they can raise a healthy generation of children. Because proper health care benefited the young generation, the risk of some diseases may be minimized or reduced (Glassman, 2017).

Governments with control over health care administration can enact policies that guide patients to the best options. For example, it may control access to appropriate drugs while eliminating alternative options. This may include illegal options. They can also increase a sin tax to reduce the chances of a smoking population. Raising the prices of cigarettes and alcohol would prevent people from participating in activities. This will directly improve their health.

Disadvantages of Free Health care

Free health care is not only morally incorrect. It also causes significant economic damage. The free health care system distorts the economy.

1. Monopoly

Health care systems are monopolized in countries such as Canada. This means that the government is now involved in all patient-doctor interactions.

As a result, a monopolistic bureaucracy delivers health care services rather than a free and open market. Customers’ demands are inherently sensitive in free markets. Companies that pay attention to consumer needs survive, whereas those that do not fail. Bureaucracies, on the other hand, have no reason to be customer-friendly. Monopolies exclude all competitive service providers and can survive by offering mediocre service. As a result, the government’s monopoly is lowering health-related quality in these countries.

2. Excess Demand

When something is free, consumers do not value it. The same is true for health care. When patients have to pay for their own treatment, they are more careful when seeking medical advice. This is why countries with free health care systems find themselves with an excess of demand. Patients flock to physicians for even the most minor of illnesses. As a result, those countries require more doctors and hospitals. To meet this unreasonable demand, they must extend the entire medical system.

Also, according to a study , users in public hospitals, as opposed to commercial healthcare, had unsatisfactory service results.

3. Shortages

Health care is expected to be treated the same as any other service. People who really need it should be able to purchase it. Citizens have to wait in line to receive their services due to the government’s monopolistic system. This is different from food, clothes, or any other good or service. Shortages and long wait times are unavoidable consequences of free health care systems. These situations are common in countries such as Canada. In countries where patients have to pay for these services, on the other hand, they can receive immediate medical attention. Government-provided free health service worsens the situation for everyone.

4. Tax Dollars

By nature, a free-for-all health system would be inefficient. However, governments in these countries claim that they would reduce inefficiency. They create elaborate plans which necessitate the spending of ever-increasing amounts of tax money. In the end, the system becomes so wasteful that society pays several times the amount it would have otherwise paid for its health care needs. Health care costs significantly increase the fiscal deficit in countries where a free health system has been implemented.

The fear of universal health care governments derives from their tendency to avoid the high costs associated with it. Moreover, administration logistics and management complexity are considered expensive and have a high failure rate.

Since the general income is derived from taxes, which increases the prices of goods across the board, healthier people may bear the cost of a few sickly citizens. As many European countries have shown, the problems posed by universal health care are manageable. Well-managed states can successfully manage universal health care in their respective countries. The benefits of having access to free health care outweigh the disadvantages. The word “universal health care” does not mean that everyone will be covered for all expenses. Instead, it focuses on easy accessibility for all citizens, making it an effective choice. The plan’s long-term benefits show that the argument for free health care is a better option to consider.

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Should The Government Provide Free Health Care in America

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