Universal Health Care System in the US Speech Essay

Attention

In 2020, a big crisis showed that the USA health care system is not efficient. This crisis is the COVID-19 pandemic. Madara (2020) notes that “the coronavirus pandemic presents a challenge unlike anything we’ve faced in this country for generations” (para. 1). According to Miller (2020), the current healthcare system’s failure in dealing with the pandemic has resulted in more than 300,000 people’s deaths. Moreover, he also notes that there were frequent shortages of such medical equipment as “beds, gowns, face masks, ventilators” medical equipment (Miller, 2020, para. 7). It is obvious that a reform of the universal health care system is needed.

Need

It can be said that the voiced problems are only symptoms of a prolonged crisis of the current US health care system. The problem is characterized by two critical long-term issues, which are the unaffordability of health insurance and high health care costs. Heitkamp (2018) states that more than 28 million US citizens cannot afford medical insurance. Lyford and Lash (2019) note that many families cannot afford even primary health care services due to high prices. Miller (2020) claims the US federal government spends more than four trillion annually. Administrative costs alone are $ 300 billion and overall costs (Heitkamp, ​​2018). A promising solution to these fundamental problems is needed.

Satisfaction

The current social and political climate presents a unique opportunity for those in power to design and implement healthcare a reformation plan. The most effective and appropriate approach would be to transform the current system, which consists of private and public areas, into a universal one. Heitkamp (2018) states that “universal health care is a single-payer health care system in which the government – not a private insurer – pays for health care” (p .15). Successful examples of such models are seen in many Western European countries, for example, France and Germany. The recent health care reform in Argentina explored by Rubinstein et al. is another successful example (2018). However, the universal health care system’s negative consequences could be a decline in the quality of medical services and an increased federal budget spending on health care.

Visualization (Negative Method)

If the announced measures are not taken, then a significant deterioration of the current problems is possible. The number of people who cannot afford health care services would continue to grow as well as budgetary costs. It is also apparent that failures in dealing with crises would continue to occur.

Action

What can we do to help solve the problem that is relevant to all Americans? I urge you to educate yourself on the topic of healthcare as well as to participate in promotions dedicated to universal health care.

Universal Health Care System in the US Speech Outline

1. ATTENTION
   1. The COVID-19 pandemic is a big crisis that showed that the United States’ health care system is not efficient.
   2. “The coronavirus pandemic presents a challenge unlike anything we’ve faced in this country for generations” (Madara, 2020, para. 1).
   3. The failure of the current health care system in dealing with the pandemic has resulted in more than 300,000 people’s deaths (Miller, 2020).
   4. Shortages of medical equipment (Miller, 2020).
   5. It is obvious that a reform of the universal health care system is needed.
2. NEED
   1. The issues pointed out are only symptoms of a prolonged crisis of the current US health care system.
   2. Two fundamental long-term problems, which are the unaffordability of health insurance and high health care costs.
   3. Heitkamp (2018) states that more than 28 million US citizens cannot afford medical insurance.
   4. A large number of families cannot afford even primary health care services due to high prices (Lyford & Lash, 2019).
   5. US federal government spends more than four trillion annually (Miller, 2020).
   6. An effective solution to these fundamental problems is needed.
3. SATISFACTION
   1. Reform is needed.
   2. The most effective and appropriate approach would be to a universal health care reform.
   3. “Universal health care is a single-payer health care system in which the government – not a private insurer – pays for health care” (Heitkamp, 2018, p .15).
   4. Western Europe is a successful example of universal health care.
   5. The recent health care reform in Argentina explored by Rubinstein et al. is another successful example (2018).
   6. Potential decline in the quality of medical services.
   7. Possibility of increasing federal budget spending on health care.
4. VISUALISATION (NEGATIVE METHOD)
   1. More people without access to medical services and care.
   2. Higher budgetary costs on the current system.
   3. Failures in dealing with future crises.
5. ACTION
   1. Educate yourself on the topic of healthcare.
   2. Participate in universal health care promotions.

References

Heitkamp, K. L. (2018). Universal health care. Greenhaven Publishing LLC.

Lyford, S., & Lash, T. A. (2019). America’s healthcare cost crisis. Generations, 43(4), 7-12. Web.

Madara, J. L. (2020, July 20). America’s health care crisis is much deeper than COVID-19. American Medical Association. Web.

Miller, J. W. (2020, May 29). Most Americans support universal health care. But can it actually happen? America – The Jesuit Review. Web.

Rubinstein, A., Zerbino, M. C., Cejas, C., & López, A. (2018). Making universal health care effective in Argentina: a blueprint for reform. Health Systems & Reform, 4(3), 203-213. doi:10.1080/23288604.2018.1477537