The writer argues that, USA government’s ability to ration health care has been made possible by lack of legislation which guarantees all citizen right to health care. This is quite unique because all other affluent nations have adequate legislations guaranteeing citizens right to medical care. In USA citizens only enjoy a universal right to emergency treatment. However, the current and previous presidents have always asserted that the government offers universal health care. While in reality rationing has been practiced since democratization of the nation.
Rationing is based on several issues and basis. First and foremost, it’s based on people’s ability to pay for medical services. This is so because the supply of doctors and hospitals is always limited. This type of rationing may be taken to mean the poor will not receive any health care however; the government has come to offer different health care services to the poor. In an attempt to blind fold citizens that health care is universally offered. While in reality, the quality of this service is not of the same level as the one enjoyed by the rich who can afford to pay for personalized services.
Second, Health care is also rationed on basis of race, and religion. There is in cases of unequal distribution of health facilities in across the country. Third, the rationing has also been based on employment and occupation in cases of job based health care insurance system. In this case employees of different companies enjoy different qualities of health care. This means some people can get better medical services than others.
References
"Health Care Rationing Is Nothing New [Excerpt]: Scientific American." Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American. N.p., 8 Jan. 2013. Web. 16 May 2013. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=health-care-rationing-is>.
Response to classmate’s work
It is true the level of homelessness has remained the same for the last few years. However, the level of chronically and veteran homelessness people declined. For example, homelessness among veterans fell by 7% in 2011 and 17% in 2009. This shows that the government is in right track in controlling homelessness.
