SHOULD OUR COUNTRY HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE PROGRAM?
The issue of whether the country should adopt a universal health care program has been eminent in the past two decades. At least every adult citizen in the United States has had a chance of engaging in a related discussion. As such, the issue being referenced to here is evidently very vital. The fact that healthcare and its implications on every individual in the country is a highly determining factor in their respective daily undertakings cannot be refuted (G20, 2006, p. 6). The relative issues and scenarios that will be discussed in this paper will clearly and purposely indicate the vitality of establishing a universal healthcare system in the country. As such, the concerned institutions and individuals in the country should endorse a universal healthcare program.
Currently, a large proportion of American citizens do not have adequate prescription on drug coverage. This factor is a reality on the ground despite the fact these individuals have healthcare insurances. In the year 2001, a 17% increase in the prices of prescription drugs in the United States was recorded. As such, even citizens that are covered by health insurances might not be able to afford it in the long run (Levy et al, 2010, p. 816). On the other hand, the number of Americans who do not have health insurance is large. The current statistics indicate that up to 40 million Americans are not covered by health insurances. This factor poses a rather challenging scenario to not only the government, but also other concerned political individuals and institutions. A universal healthcare program can adequately deal with these issues. Hence, a proper and guaranteed healthcare for every American citizen will be guaranteed.
The delivery process regarding the healthcare system is inefficient. Further, the vital financing aspects that are associated with this crucial government sector are in a mess. The two vital general inputs in that largely determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare process are highly complicated. At times, concerned individuals might relate unfairness to this two factors and their relevance to provision of satisfactory healthcare services. With an inefficient financing process, the expected and pre-determined success and effectiveness of the system becomes rather slow or largely inefficient (Sherry, 2008, p. 44). A universal healthcare system in the country can largely adequately address this issue. With an able and informed centre of control, the healthcare process in the country can largely get positive influence from this undertaking. It is vital to note that a centralized governing system can only be achieved through the efficient integration of all healthcare processes and concerned infrastructure. A universal healthcare system therefore proves to be a proper mode of operation that can be used to adequately solve this issue.
It is evident that workers unions in the United States are workers unions are in a fix. These institutions are having it hard trying to prioritize on issues facing them. The issue of health, which is fundamentally one of the focus points of any workers union, brings about this confusion. For instance, the confusion of whether to increase the wages of workers or to maintain the already expensive and continually rising health coverage is experienced. This is one of the factors that can be easily addressed by a unified and universal health system in the country. As such, workers unions will be left to handle other equally vital components of hardworking citizens.
It is evident that multi-year legally mandated cuts in healthcare reimbursement are being largely implemented in the country currently. At the same time, medical practitioners are facing significant increases in the costs of operation. For instance, there are currently high hikes in malpractice insurance. Consequently, numerous physicians are opting not to take on new or many patients in their respective facilities. This factor is so even with the inclusion of the fact and knowledge that the seemingly rejected patients are all Medicare beneficiaries. These processes are therefore marred with inefficiencies and hidden unprofessionalism. Full effect and advantage of learned individuals such as these individuals is kept at bay and enjoyed less by the deserved. The government which has a responsibility of individual’s health in the country should address this issue therefore. As such, the best mode of interception is through the integration of all systems in the country regarding the healthcare sector. A universal healthcare system can adequately counter the genesis of these problems.
Businesses in the United States are currently finding that their respective health plans are very costly. Further, the costs are increasingly in the rise in the respective businesses. For instance, the expected percentage escalation currently in the country is approximately 12%. This is a very high percentage increase in the long run. It generally implies that the businesses will not fully realize their revenue potential. Healthcare, though evidently a vital concern to every person should not be a hindrance to the flourishing of businesses. The government is responsible to such individuals in a large way. It can adequately and effectively step in this situation by creating a universal healthcare system in the country.
The opposing individuals and institutions to the creation of a universal healthcare system in the country offer certain reasons for this reasoning. One of the main issues that have been raised by the opposing side of this aspect is the financing. The economic implication of creating a universal healthcare system in the country will be large. The finances needed to sort this process out will be burdened to respective taxpayers. This reasoning is true to a large extent. The initial cost of setting up viable infrastructure would be largely felt by the taxpayers. However, countering this reasoning is the fact that the end results of such an endeavor will be highly appreciated. The current costs the government is meeting regarding the absence of such a system can be accumulatively larger than the initial cost of set-up of the system infrastructure. As such, the implementation of such a system in the current era will see to it that numerous amounts of money are saved and directed to other resourceful ventures in the long run. France, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom are good examples of countries with universal healthcare systems. The economy of our country is evidently better than that of the specified countries.
The reasons and problems stated in this paper offer a very valid reason as to why the process of creating a universal healthcare system is vital. The government ought to be highly responsible to its citizens. This aspect largely incorporates the issue of mandatory proper and efficient healthcare to all the citizens in the country. One of the most efficient processes of combating these processes is through the creation of a unified healthcare system. The given examples of efficient healthcare processes in countries that have integrated the universal healthcare systems should serve as referencing points and sources for the United States government and other concerned players in the healthcare sector.
REFERENCES
Levy, A. R. Milton, C., Johnston, K. M., Harrigan, B. & Briggs, A. H. (2010). “International
comparison of comparative effectiveness research in five jurisdictions: Insights for the
US.” Pharmaeconomics 28 (10), 813-830
G20 Health Care (2006). Health Care Systems and Health Market Reform in the G20 Countries.
New York: Ernst & Young.
Sherry, G. (2008). “Health Financing, Efficiency, and Equity.” National Bureau of Economic
Research Working Paper, 13881
