American Responsibility Case Study

Should America provide a universal healthcare system for its citizens?

        America should provide a universal healthcare program for its citizens to increase national health, lower healthcare costs in the US and bridge the divide between the impoverished and wealthy in terms of health opportunities provided. As of this year, the United States is the only industrialized nation that does not provide some sort of health care as right of citizenship, according to Drs. John Battista and Justine McCabe of the Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care, (par. 1).

        There are many people who are against the switch from fully privatized health care options to universal healthcare. Their arguments include the following: The United States healthcare system is the the best in the world; universal healthcare is too expensive; universal healthcare would deprive citizens of necessary services; and the government would control the healthcare system and intrude on the freedom of the individual. Each of these points are myths and are easily refutable.

        First myth: the United States healthcare system is the best in the world. If our healthcare system is the best in the world then why is it that the US ranks 23rd for infant mortality, 20th for female life expectancy, 21st for male life expectancy, and 67th for immunizations, below countries like Botswana, (Battista and McCabe, par. 2)? So what does that come down to? It means that despite having the best medically trained professionals, we have a relatively poorly-ranked healthcare system.

        Second myth: universal healthcare is too expensive. In comparison to other industrialized countries in the world, the United States pays 40% more per capita on healthcare than countries with universal healthcare, (Battista and McCabe, par. 3). Battista and McCabe go on to say that "single payer universal health care would save 100 to 200 billion dollars per year despite covering all the uninsured and increasing benefits," (par. 3). There have already been state studies in Massachusetts and Connecticut that have proven that states save billions per year when switching to universal healthcare. This shows that switching to a single payer universal healthcare option means that the country would actually save money.

        Third myth: universal healthcare would deprive citizens of necessary services. Battista and McCabe say that citizens from countries with universal healthcare have more doctor visits and more hospital days than in the US, (par. 4). This is also blatantly not true because of a few obvious factors. In the US, healthcare is directly related to income, meaning that those who are impoverished frequently do not get any health services at all, and according the Battista and McCabe this means that 75% of ill uninsured people have trouble getting or paying for health care, (par.4). Because so many go without insurance due to inability to pay, universal healthcare wouldn't turn anyone away and everyone would be able to access health services and care.

        Fourth myth: the government would control the healthcare system and intrude on the freedom of the individual. Unlike the current system, people would not need to meet a pre-approval for services, thus there would be more patient confidentiality and more decisions provided to the healthcare provider and consumer, (Battista and McCabe, par. 5). Battista and McCabe clearly outline the government involvement in their fourth argument: "Taxes, fees and benefits would be decided by the insurer which would be under the control of a diverse board…it would not be a government controlled system, although the government would have to approve taxes," (par. 5). In other words, a public trust, not the government, would run the system.

        There are too many negative aspects of the current healthcare system for citizens to just sit idly by. The idea of a single payer universal healthcare system makes sense because of the opportunities made available, the cost, and the access provided to more citizens.

Works Cited

Battista, John R., and Justine McCabe. "The Case for Universal Health Care in the United States." Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_s tates.htm>.