Universal Health Care Research Paper

Should the United States provide universal health care is a huge question that the

government is contemplating? Everyone in America wants to be healthy, but it is very

difficult when many people in America can not afford health insurance and face issues

worse than this on a daily basis. Problems like these are issues that politicians are

constantly working to come up with a solution to (Oppapers, 2008).With several states

already pursuing universal coverage programs, and presidential hopefuls touting national

proposals, health care reform is fast becoming one of the top issues in the 2008 election.

This is not surprising given that the private market is failing to control escalating health

care spending or cover
the uninsured(Wright, 2007). Universal health care should be

provided for the reason that health care has become unaffordable; it would provide a

national database for the doctors. Last it will decrease the amount of death and major

diseases. Universal health care is needed in the United States for these individuals who

Can not afford health care and even those who may need assistance to afford better

health care.

Several Americans argue that the health care system is something that

should be made universal for people in United States. Reasons why many agree that

universal health care is needed are because the number of uninsured citizens has grown

and health care has become unaffordable for businesses and individuals, because America

government controlled the amount of help provide. Many find it hard to believe that

Health care has become increasingly unaffordable for business and individuals? The U.S.

health care system now spends over $2 trillion a year but compares unfavorably on health

outcome measures to nations that spend far less. Providing uncompensated care to the nation’s 47 million uninsured has increased Americans’ average annual insurance

premiums by $922 per family and $341 per individual(Wright, 2007). Consequently,

health insecurity, a risk once faced only by the poor, now faces the middle class as well.

Even the wealthiest Americans are watching their corporation’s bottom lines be

consumed by rising insurance premiums, leading fewer employers to offer coverage to

their employees (Wright, 2007).
Given that health care premiums continue to grow at

several times the rate of inflation, many businesses are simply choosing to not offer a

health plan, or if they do, to pass on more of the cost to employees. However, any costs

not covered by insurance must be absorbed by all the rest of us, which means even higher

premiums (Messerli 2008). Even if the businesses and individuals that choose to keep

their health plans still must pay a much higher amount. Remember, businesses only have

a certain amount of money they can spend on labor. If they must spend more on health

insurance premiums; they will have less money to spend on raises, new hires, investment,

and so on(Messerli 2008). Individuals who must pay more for premiums have less money

to spend on rent, food, and consumer goods; in other words, less money is pumped back

into the economy. Thus, health care prevents the country from making a robust economic

recovery. (Messerli
2008).

Doctors need accurate information to make a proper diagnosis. And having

separate systems means we have a tougher time analyzing data at a national level. For

example, are incidents of a certain disease dropping?
How often is a certain illness associated with a specific set of symptoms? A centralized national system would allow us

to do data analysis that we never dreamed possible, leading to medical advances and

increased diagnosis efficiency, and would be able to have more time for the patients care

(Messerli 2008). The main argument against a centralized database is that certain

insurance providers may deny coverage if they find certain past medical problems.

However, if the government is paying for everything that should never be a problem

(Messerli 2008). Since many people are uninsured and those that do have insurance face high

deductibles. If you would only see the statistics of people who are just infected with

diseases and the sad thing is not being capable to do anything about it because of the cost

of health care. Patients life spans are shorted as will for the reason that, by the time they

get a chance to go to the doctor it would be too late for treatment. Americans often
miss

out on doctor visits for minor health problems or for preventive medicine. Therefore,

health problems that could be caught at an early stage or prevented altogether become

major illnesses. Things like routine physicals, mammograms, and HIV tests could prevent

major problems. This not only affects the health of the patient but the overall cost of the

system, since preventive medicine costs only a small fraction of a full blown disease

(Messerli 2008). Yes , the government does provide Medicaid, medicare, and Wic, but

that can only help so much and is limited to certain things. Also it takes certain

qualifications to be eligible for it. Some people at sometimes really need it and for some

reason they do not qualify. From personal experience , it is a really long process and

frustrating if you face any problems trying to get approved. A simplified universal health system would allow doctors, nurses, and other medical professions to simply focus on

doing what's best for the patient (Messerli 2008).

Providing universal health care has introduced many important facts that

may have improvements in our government, including the ability to make health care

become more unaffordable for businesses and individuals. Also it would provide a

national database for the doctors. Last it will decrease the amount of death and major

diseases. Although Universal health care will cause some issues it is still worth it,

because of the fact that it is involving peoples lives. I know some people might see it as a

freebie but , I believe that when it comes to a individuals health and life it does not matter

if it is a freebie involved. With universal health care the world would be a better place.