Abstract
Ensuring the health of all citizens in very important in ensuring that economic growth is achieved. This paper tries to explore if a universal health care system would useful to Americans or not. This is because this one the strategies that can be helpful for such a large population.
Health is the state of complete physical and mental wellbeing. Every government has an obligation of ensuring that all its citizens are healthy. These costs are incurred by the government. The costs pertaining to health care are becoming uncontrollable for most nations. This is even worse for countries with large populations like United States of America Michael, 2010). In fact, a lot of resources are being spent in ensuring that the citizens are healthy compared to the amount used in purchasing food and shelter. The premiums from insurance services are increasing at a faster rate than the inflation rate. The ultimate end results is that economic growth is slowed down. Business growth slows down as well making less people to be hired. Thus; there is less money to devote for health services. The health care system of the United States of America remains of the best in the world. This is because it is admired by many globally. This makes people to wonder whether it is necessary to develop a health care system that is universal (Martins, 2010). This has instigated many debates in forums and in other public places whether or not a universal health care system should be put in place for all Americans.
The population of Americans has increased tremendously. This increase in population has led to at least 45 million Americans being uninsured (Martins, 2010). This large group of individuals that need an intervention that covers the majority. This then requires a universal health scheme by the government that can cover such a large group. It is estimated that this population is over 45 million. This number includes illegal immigrants as well. The increase in health care premiums is making most businesses not to provide the employees with a health plan. The organizations that provide health plans shift the cost to the employees (Michael, 2010). This is making many employees to incur additional costs in meeting the health costs. Some employees have even incurred much extra cost. These costs have led to serious consequences. The employees have opted to do without the coverage on health. Thus; comprehensive health coverage would be useful for all Americans. This would be important for people who are unemployed. Not all organizations have insurance coverage (Martin, 2010). Some offer such services while others do not. Employees in originations that do not offer health coverage will find the idea beneficial.
The absence of health insurance however does not mean that there is no medical care. This is because there are many health center and clinics that offer free medical services (Michael, 2010). The costs in medical centers are usually high. This additional cost has to be incurred by the patients as the insurance cover may not be in a position of settling everything. This leads to very premiums.
Health care is becoming UN affordable to citizens of American and the people operating business in America (Michael, 2010). The individuals who make a decision to pay for their health plans incur great expenses. This means that there should be away to help in solving this crisis. This has affected business operations and their budgetary allocations. They slot a few resources to cater fort the health plans and .In addition, they recruit a small number of people they can comfortably manage. Increasing the cost of health insurance usually leads to less money being left to cater for other activities of the organization. The activities compromised include labor, reduction in hiring and no salary increment to the individuals to the employees. Thus lack of an effective health care system is becoming an obstacle for America in achieving a strong economic growth (Michael, 2010). This is because economic growth is influenced by health of individuals. If the citizens can be healthy, they would contribute significantly towards the growth of a nation. A universal health care system would thus be useful in ensuring that the medical costs are significantly reduced .This will result in a healthy nation. The healthy population will in turn contribute to economic
The procedure for getting registered under a health insurance is very cumbersome. It involves filling a lot of papers (Martins, 2010). These papers need approval which may be a law court or an authorized organization. The final stage of the many procedures is the submission of the insurance cover. Filling these medical histories is time consuming too. One has to answer a lot of questions. A universal health care system will thus be helpful in avoiding such long procedures that are time consuming. People will no longer required to submit claims when they get to see a doctor nor be sent to make some payments foot the bills. Putting in place a health care system that is universal will help in avoiding these many procedures (Michael, 2010) .The time saved could be used in other activities that build the nation. It is estimated that the universal health care system will lead to more savings than expenditure.
Having a universal health care system will stimulate the development of a database that is centralized. This will be used in the diagnosis as well as treatment of diseases (Michael, 2010). This will make the work medical practitioners easier. It will help reduce time wastage. All medical history will be stored in the database and people will no longer be required to explain their medical histories during their visits. Thus, doctors will always be accessible to reliable information as they discharge their duties. It will also enable the data to be analysed.This will help in finding new ways of improving the efficiency.However,a data system that is centralized will bring more problems (Martins, 2010). For example, the insurance organizations may find a basis for denying people claims if their medical history is bad. But with the government being available to pay, this will not be a problem anymore.
Among the challenges that emanate from the universal health care system is contributing some money monthly by families or individuals towards the health scheme (Martin, 2010). Since this will be compulsory to everyone, most people see it as a form of slavery in the modern world. However universal health care system would provide more merits than demerits. Majority of Americans like doing part time work and spending more time with their families. Universal health care system will give Americans more time to engage in other activities. This includes studying, being engaged in other businesses and so on. These are opportunities that will be supported by the universal health care system.
The current health care system has many disavantages.These demerits are seen in patients with chronic diseases like cancer, asthma as well as cardio vascular diseases (Michael, 2010). These conditions are very expensive to treat. As a result, most patients are unable to meet the costs. To worsen the situation, some insurance firms decline to covers such patients. This has resulted in many patients devoting all their resources to treatment of diseases. For those who are vulnerable, they live with the medical conditions.
Everything has that comes has both advantages and disadvatages.The universal health care poses some challenges. It will not be free as such (Michael, 2010).The Americans will have to incur some costs to ensure that it is implemented and maintained successfully. Thus, people say that it would be useful to wipe a few dollars towards paying for health schemes and introduce an idea that will be far much expensive. Such cost will be too much for those working in the private sector unlike those in the government sector. This is because those in the private sector lack job security and they could be paid much less. The employees in the government sector on the other hand are guaranteed job security. The fear is that what would happen if someone loses his or her job. In addition, control of the health care system would lead to a reduction in flexibility (Martin, 2010). This calls for some restrictions to put in place to prevent the costs getting high. It will be the role of the government to make important decision concerning the health scheme. Some routines will be put in place. Some conditions will be treated only once and additional costs will be met by the patient. Thus, the universal health care may not be as free as it is perceived.
As much universal health care may have some weaknesses, it strategies that can be used to ensure that the large populations of American not insured get access to medical care. Diseases that require additional medical attention should thus be given special considerations.This way, Americans will have made a crucial step in ensuring that all the citizens have access to medical care.
References
Martin, M.K. (November 2010). "The political economy of universal health coverage". Global symposium on health systems research.
Michael. (March 22, 2010). "Healthcare vote: Barack Obama passes US health reform by narrow margin". The Guardian (London).Retrieved on 2nd December2012. .
