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Universal Health Care: What's
the Debate All About?
by www.SixWise.com
In 2007, Americans spent $2.3 trillion on health care. This
amounts to $7,600 for every person. Meanwhile, health insurance
premiums increased by over 6 percent, which is about twice
the rate of inflation.
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Rising health care costs are demanding health care
reform in the United States.
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A family of four can now expect to spend over $12,000 a year
on premiums for an employer health plan, while singles will
spend about $4,400.
Not surprisingly, many people are finding these costs hard
to swallow, and as a result 47 million Americans (that's 16
percent of the population) are uninsured.
One thing that everyone agrees on is a need for health care
reform. But when it comes to one of the proposed solutions
-- universal health care -- opinions are sharply divided.
What is Universal Health Care?
Universal health care guarantees that every American will
have access to health care. The specifics of the plan can
vary, but the underlying premise is to ensure that everyone
has coverage.
Currently, many people do not get necessary health care,
either because they cannot afford it or because they've been
denied insurance coverage due to a preexisting medical condition.
According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which recommends
universal health care, about 18,000 people die every year
in the United States because they don't have health insurance.
The United States is the only industrialized nation that does
not have a universal health care system, according to IOM,
and this makes the United States a nation in which health
care is a privilege instead of a right.
According to universal health care's supporters:
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Universal health care can save money because it allows
people to get preventive medical care that can reduce
chronic disease expenses.
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It allows people who are staying in their job just for
the medical coverage freedom to get another job.
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It increases global competitiveness for U.S. businesses,
because they will no longer be responsible for all health
insurance costs.
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It would end unfair health insurance discrimination so
that no American would be denied coverage or forced to
pay excessive premiums.
The Case Against Universal Health Care
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About 18,000 people die each
year in the United States because they don't have health
insurance, according to the Institute of Medicine.
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Though it sounds good in premise, not everyone is in favor
of universal health care. The central argument for those opposed
is that government interference is what caused many of the
problems with the current health care system, and more government
involvement via universal health care would only further complicate
matters.
On one hand, a national health insurance plan provided by
the government could explode budgets, raise taxes, restrict
access to alternative medicine providers, and downplay medical
innovation. Meanwhile, a plan that requires every American
to buy "affordable" health insurance could also
backfire as lobbyists petition the government to "require"
more and more coverage. In time, the minimum package could
get expensive.
Also a concern is that universal health care would take away
doctors' autonomy and ability to earn a high income, which
could exacerbate the doctor shortage already facing the United
States. In fact, one survey by physician recruiting firm LocumTenens.com
found that 20 percent of doctors say they will quit practicing
medicine if universal health care is implemented.
The solution according to some is the complete opposite of
universal health care: remove all controls and make health
care a free market.
This competition would force costs to come down and then
Americans could decide what they wanted to spend their health
dollars on.
For now, the debate remains a hot one, the issues raised
by both sides complex. And while experts say that change in
the health-care arena is inevitable, no one is sure just what
the future holds for health care in America.
Recommended Reading
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6 Common Mistakes Doctors Make When Treating Older Patients
-- and How to Prevent Them
Sources
National
Coalition on Health Care
Bizjournals.com
May 14, 2008
Businessweek.com
Institute
of Medicine: Insuring America's Health
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