Introduction
Healthcare is a significant socio-political issue in the United States. In the United States, health insurance is provided through a combination of public and private approaches, where private insurance companies offer coverage, and individuals may qualify for government-subsidized health insurance. However, in most industrialized Western countries, healthcare is subsidized by the government and accessible to all citizens, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, employment, or financial capacity to pay.
Universal Healthcare in the US
Universal healthcare, as defined by Zieff et al. (2020), ensures that everyone has access to necessary and effective healthcare services without incurring significant financial burdens. During President Obama’s administration, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted to expand health coverage to millions of Americans and move the United States closer to achieving a universal healthcare system. Implementing a free and universal healthcare system in the U.S. would improve health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and provide coverage to all, but it would require significant government spending and higher taxes to fund the program.
Data from Other Countries
Universal healthcare systems have proven successful in other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and France. These countries provide comprehensive healthcare services to all citizens, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs compared to the United States. In Canada, for instance, the universal healthcare system, Medicare, covers medically necessary services, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and diagnostic tests (Martin et al., 2018).
According to a report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, in 2018, Canada spent $5,782 per capita on healthcare, which is less than half of what the United States spends (Atkinson et al., 2019). Canada spends less on healthcare, yet its citizens have a longer life expectancy and lower infant mortality rates compared to those in the U.S.
According to Atkinson et al. (2019), the WHO found that in 2019, the average life expectancy in Canada was 82 years. In contrast, in the United States, it was only 78 years. Furthermore, Canada’s infant mortality rate was 3.9 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the U.S. had a higher rate of 5.7.
Costs and the Effect on the Budget
The cost of healthcare in the United States is a pressing issue that affects both individuals and the government. Currently, individuals in the U.S. pay high premiums for private health insurance, as well as copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare services. According to a 2021 report by the Commonwealth Fund, 12.5% of adults in the U.S. did not receive needed medical care due to cost concerns in 2020 (Cole, 2020). This highlights the burden of healthcare costs on individuals in the current system.
For individuals, a universal healthcare system would likely require higher taxes to fund the program. According to a recent report by the Urban Institute, implementing a single-payer healthcare system in the United States would require an additional $32 trillion in federal spending over a ten-year period (Blahous, 2018). As a result, citizens would be required to dig deep into their pockets to support the initiative. However, the report also found that a single-payer system would result in net savings for households and businesses, as they would no longer need to pay premiums for private health insurance.
Implementing a universal healthcare system would require a significant upfront investment from the government, as it would involve restructuring the entire country’s healthcare system. The government would need to build and maintain a comprehensive healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities, to provide high-quality care to all citizens.
Additionally, the government would need to invest in training and hiring additional healthcare workers, negotiate lower prices for medications and treatments, and invest in administrative infrastructure to manage patient records and process claims. This would mean that the government would have to increase its current budget to cover sectors that were not initially considered under the program.
Healthcare Coverage
The exact number of Americans who would be covered by a free and universal healthcare system in the U.S. would depend on the specific design of the system. However, in general, such a system would aim to provide healthcare coverage to all individuals, regardless of their income or employment status. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019, approximately 27.5 million Americans lacked health insurance, representing about 8.5% of the total population (Kaufman-Waldron, 2019).
A universal healthcare system would aim to provide coverage to all individuals, including those who are currently underinsured or face high healthcare costs despite having insurance. However, some individuals may choose not to participate in a universal healthcare system, even if it is available. This could be due to various reasons, such as a preference for alternative healthcare options or a desire to maintain more control over their healthcare choices.
Anticipated Healthcare Outcomes
Developing a free and universal healthcare system in the U.S. would lead to significant improvements in healthcare outcomes for the population. With universal healthcare, more people could seek medical attention for their health needs, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. This would ultimately result in improved health outcomes and save lives. The reduced financial burden on patients also leads to more people seeking preventive care, which helps detect and address health issues before they become more serious and costly.
Prescription Costs
Implementing a universal health care (UHC) system in the U.S. could streamline the complex and secretive system of prescription drug pricing, negotiations, and rebates. By providing a single, centralized payer system, UHC can enhance its negotiating power, reduce administrative costs, and mitigate pricing variability across different payer systems.
Currently, the U.S. has a fragmented healthcare system, with multiple payers, each negotiating separately with pharmaceutical companies (Wang, 2021). The negotiation process can be opaque, and the discounts and rebates provided by pharmaceutical companies are often shrouded in secrecy. As a result, the same drug can be priced differently for different payers, with some paying significantly more than others.
UHC can reduce these costs by creating a centralized, national payer system. It would give the government significant bargaining power to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on behalf of all Americans, allowing for bulk purchases of prescription drugs at lower prices. The government could utilize its bargaining power to establish a maximum price for prescription drugs, resulting in cost savings for healthcare systems and patients.
Changes for Healthcare Professionals
With free and universal healthcare in the U.S., there would be a significant shift towards preventive care. This means that healthcare professionals would have to focus more on promoting health and preventing diseases rather than treating symptoms or illnesses. This shift would require healthcare professionals to invest more time and resources into educating patients on healthy lifestyles, regular check-ups, and early detection of potential health issues. The aim would be to reduce the incidence of costly and severe diseases that could have been prevented or detected early.
Furthermore, with increased access to healthcare services, there is likely to be a corresponding rise in demand for healthcare professionals. This would lead to a surge in job opportunities for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. The need for healthcare services is expected to be further fueled by the aging population, which is anticipated to increase significantly in the coming years. As such, healthcare professionals must be adequately prepared and trained to meet the demands of the growing population.
Pros and Cons
A universal healthcare system would provide healthcare services to all citizens regardless of their ability to pay. This would increase access to healthcare, especially for low-income individuals and those with pre-existing conditions who may be unable to afford healthcare under the current system. With increased access to healthcare, there is a greater likelihood of early disease detection, resulting in improved health outcomes.
Universal healthcare would require substantial funding from the government, potentially leading to higher taxes for citizens. Additionally, concerns may arise about the quality of care provided under a single-payer system, with some individuals worrying that it could result in longer wait times and a decline in the quality of care. Another disadvantage is the potential for increased government control over healthcare. With a single-payer system, the government would be responsible for providing and regulating all healthcare services, which could lead to less choice and control for individuals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, proponents argue that switching to universal healthcare would give every citizen full medical coverage, ultimately improving public health and reducing overall healthcare costs. While people would face higher taxes under a single-payer system, the elimination of monthly premiums and other fees is expected to result in overall savings for families and businesses. The exact number of people covered by this kind of system would depend on its final structure. Still, its clear purpose is to provide health coverage to everyone, regardless of their financial situation or job status.
References
Atkinson, S. J. W., Armbruster, C. K., Evans, E. M., & Laughlin, C. M. (2019). Fitness and Wellness in Canada. Human Kinetics. Web.
Blahous, C. (2018). The costs of a national single-payer healthcare system. Mercatus Research Paper. Web.
Cole, B. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to health care. Health Policy Brief, 17, 1-31.
Kaufman-Waldron, J. (2019). Greenstein: More Americans uninsured, though progress on poverty continues. Web.
Martin, D., Miller, A. P., Quesnel-Vallée, A., Caron, N. R., Vissandjée, B., & Marchildon, G. P. (2018). Canada’s universal health-care system: achieving its potential. The Lancet, 391(10131), 1718-1735. Web.
Wang, E. (2021). Universal healthcare: An argument for a US transition in light of COVID-19. Journal of Interdisciplinary Public Policy, 2(2), 3-11. Web.
Zieff, G., Kerr, Z. Y., Moore, J. B., & Stoner, L. (2020). Universal healthcare in the United States of America: A healthy debate. Medicina, 56(11), 580. Web.