The question that I have been researching this term is centralized on the American health care system. The question is “should the Obama administration attempt to convert the United States to a single-payer health care system?”
The American health care system is decomposing with the passing of time. It’s extremely difficult for politicians to argue that our third-party health care system is working in America. The United States is currently ranked 37th in the world according to the World Health Organization. America spends nearly 16% of our Gross Domestic Product on health care spending, which is more than any other country. There are roughly 46 million Americans that do not have any form of health insurance. The majority of citizens and experts (including President Obama) believe that the health care system needs to be reformed, but disagreement has formed over which type of reform is best.
The last major attempt to reform the U.S. health care system took place in the early 1990′s. Hilary Clinton was put in charge of the Task Force on National Health Care Reform, which is more commonly referred to as the “Clinton health care plan.” The plan was the first major attempt at enacting a Universal Health Care system into the United States. It failed. Many people blamed the insurance companies, arguing that the lobbyists had bought Congressional votes. Others claim that the plan was too costly and poorly written. Whatever the reason, major health care reform was ignored for the 14 years that followed. But now, with more and more Americans losing their health insurance due to the struggling economy, and with President Obama promoting ideas of change and progress, health care reform has become a hot topic in Washington.
There are several differing ideas for health care reform… and everyone wants their voice heard. Since February 2009, there have been several “closed-door meetings” held in Washington. The meetings are designed to discuss the right health care reform for America; contributors include: doctors, nurses, insurance and pharmaceutical lobbyists, and politicians. There are many plans, and each one has its own technical differences, but there are two main health care ideologies that have many citizens and politicians divided.
The first idea for reform is for the government to regulate the current health care system, and President Obama seems to be favoring the idea. The proposal is an adaptation of the current third-party payer system. The proposed plan would require every American to either purchase private-insurance or buy into a government-run insurance plan, and the government would provide free (or low-cost) insurance for the poor.
The second ideology for Universal Health Care in America is a Single-Payer system or a National Health Insurance. A single-payer health care system is where health care is paid for citizens from a single fund, usually the government. Great Britain uses a single-payer system in their society and it works well; Great Britain is ranked 17th in the world when it comes to health care. In a single-payer system, like Great Britain’s, everyone is covered by the government, and the government regulates prices to ensure that it is affordable. A single-payer system would eliminate the need for insurance companies, which is why lobbyists are constantly fighting a single-payer plan.
After months of research I have concluded that the Obama administration SHOULD attempt to convert the United States to a single-payer system because it is the best way to guarantee affordable insurance for ALL Americans. There are three main arguments against a single-payer system, and I will address all three.
The first argument against a single-payer system stems from a general misunderstanding from the public. Many believe that single-payer will cause America to drown in taxes and create month-long waits for doctor visits. Studies show that taxation from single-payer would be cheaper than current prices of premiums from insurance companies. And while there are occasional waits for elective procedures, there are never waits for critical care or doctor visits. A portion of the public fears government run programs, and believe that “socialized medicine” will be a safe-haven for government abuse. A single-payer system will create the need for government transparency, but a single-payer program is guaranteed to waste less money than our current system because insurance companies currently use portions of premium pay to fund advertising and “administrative costs.”
Second, there are many who argue that a single-payer system is not politically feasible in America. President Obama may even fit into this category because he has said in the past that he supports a single-payer system, but he is currently endorsing a government-regulated for-profit system. Many see a single-payer system as impossible in the U.S. because the insurance companies have so much money and so much influence in Washington between lobbyists and financial persuasion. The argument is that some reform is better than no reform. However, I refuse to concede the power of health care to the mighty insurance companies, while we lowly Serfs accept subservience to their will. I refuse to accept the world as it is based on the argument that “that’s just the way it is.”
The final argument is voiced by some individuals in our capitalistic society that do not believe they should have to pay for another person’s medical care. Arguments include: “it’s their problem, not mine; why should my money go to pay for people who are not taking care of themselves?; I’ve got to take care of myself and my family, I shouldn’t have to be taxed for the health care of others.” These are logical (and even understandable) arguments, but it approaches health care as a purchasable service for some, rather than a human right for all. This is the key to the flawed system of insurance companies; it’s a market. Health care should be designed and delivered around a system that has only one goal: to help people. But the current system tries to accomplish health care and profit in one packaged-business. A for-profit system does not work well, and it re-affirms the flawed thinking of many Americans that health care should be earned.
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