Gabriela Nicotra (FGCU Intro to Soci.): Healthcare:Should the United States have universal healthcare as a right of citizenship?

Gabriela Nicotra (FGCU Intro to Soci.): Healthcare:Should the United States have universal healthcare as a right of citizenship?  

       Should the United States have universal healthcare as a right of citizenship? Facts: According to cthealth.server101.com, the United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. Twenty eight industrialized nations have single payer universal health care systems, while only Germany has a multi-payer universal health care system, which President Clinton had once projected for this country (Battista and McCabe, 1994). Opposingviews.com also reveals that there are nearly 50 million Americans currently without health insurance who are struggling to pay their medical bills (Klepper, 2008). Cthealth.server101.com states that repeated national and state polls have shown that between 60% to 75% of Americans would like a universal health care system (Battista and McCabe, 1994). The US Census Bureau also states that the percentage of people in the United States without health insurance was 15.8% in 2006, and the number of uninsured was 47 million.

     Administrative costs for private health insurance are in the range of 11-14% of total premiums, while a shift to a single-payer system would yield net savings of about $99.6 billion (as of 2006) annually in reported administrative costs, or about $2100 in potential health-care benefits for each of the 47 million individuals currently uninsured (Zycher, 2007). According to cnn.com, Republican leaders and some conservative Democrats specifically oppose the government-funded plan, fearing it would lead to eventual elimination of private health insurance. However, the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, states that a national healthcare plan is on track to pass Congress by end of August (Lucas, 2009).    

     President Obama acknowledged he supports what is called “the national option”, saying it would increase competition for private plans. At the same time, the president insisted a national plan would be one of many choices as part of reforms intended to strengthen the U.S. system (Barrett and Keiler, 2009). “‘If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor,’” he said to applause. “‘If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan’” (Barrett and Keiler, 2009). He also stated that none of the plans would be able to deny coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions and that Congress is expected to take up at least three healthcare proposals in coming months (Barrett and Keiler, 2009).

       Research has revealed that the United States is indeed the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to healthcare as a right of citizenship. While some may say universal healthcare would be too expensive, the facts prove differently. According to cthealth.server101.com, federal studies by the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting Office show that single payer universal healthcare would save $100 to $200 Billion per year, despite covering all the uninsured and increasing healthcare benefits (Battista and McCabe, 1999). The amount of money this country and its citizens would be saving, from the benefits of a universal healthcare system would be colossal.

      The United States denies healthcare based on the inability to pay. If everyone had access to a universal healthcare system, there would be less people worrying about how they were going to afford keeping their family happy and healthy. Also, in this country, access to quality healthcare is directly dependent on income and race. If there were universal healthcare, many minority and economically disadvantaged groups would have access to it. This would allow all citizens equal access to easy and quality healthcare. Some believe that healthcare would most likely result in more government control, intrusion, and the loss of freedom of choice. However, this is not true. Once again, according to cthealth.server101.com, single payer universal healthcare administered by a state public health system would be much more democratic and less intrusive than the current system (Battista and McCabe, 1999). Consumers and providers would have a voice in determining benefits, rates, and taxes. Problems with free choice, confidentiality, and medical decision making would be resolved.

       I believe that healthcare is a need, not a right, and that every legal US citizen should be eligible for good, affordable healthcare. Also affirmed from opposingviews.com, many healthcare experts believe that in the end, the cost of a universal coverage system would be less than we currently pay (Klepper, 2008). This should be a huge wakeup call and credible argument as to why universal healthcare is needed in this country. Just because we are one of the wealthiest nations, this does not mean everyone is able to afford or have health insurance. With a universal healthcare plan, this number would be greatly reduced, and our country would most likely be stronger as a whole.

      I believe that being a US citizen guarantees you the right to an easy, affordable healthcare plan. Whether you are working or not, you should have access to quality healthcare. As is well-known, many Americans are losing their jobs today. Many working families, who were struggling to pay for healthcare before, are under pressure more now due to job loss. Just imagine how many more US citizens are stressing about their healthcare now. 

      Just as stated in the United States Declaration of Independence, all Americans have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People cannot pursue happiness if they are not healthy. Some will argue that it’s the government’s job to protect its citizens from harm. The same argument can be made for healthcare, since people are “harmed” when they get sick and cannot get help. It shouldn’t be argued, or even questioned, that a US American Citizen be guaranteed the right to a good healthcare plan; it should be provided.

   Barrett, T. and Keilar, B. (2009, June 11). Obama takes health care plan to the people. Cnn.com Web. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/11/health.care.debate/ Battista, J. and McCabe, J. (1999, June 4). The Case for Universal Health Care in the United States. Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care Web. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states.htm Klepper, B. (2008). Should the U.S. Have Universal Healthcare? Opposing Views Web. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/universal-coverage-would-help-keep-americas-health-system-stable Lucas, F (2009, July 9). Biden Says National Health Care Plan Is on Track to Pass Congress by End of August. Csnews.com Web. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from http://www.cnsnews.com/Public/Content/article.aspx?RsrcID=50759 Zycher, B (October 2007). Medical Progress Report. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Web. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/mpr_05.htm

This entry was posted on 22. February 2010 at 08:32 and is filed under Mr. Andoscia, Introduction to Sociology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.