Introduction/Summary
Universal Healthcare is policy which has rapidly been gaining support for around the world. Now a hotly-debated topic in the United States, many wonder why it nation hasn’t followed many other countries in adopting this healthcare system (Vladeck, 2003). The World Health Organization defines Universal Health Coverage as meaning “that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship […] from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care” (World Health Organization). The execution of Universal Healthcare in the United States would be on a federal level where a government-provided healthcare would be covered by income tax or where income tax funds a national plan through a single insurance agency (Amadeo, 2022).
Answer the concept questions (see attached document)
What are the relevant rules guiding the policy?
The status quo of the United States healthcare system has the majority of Americans receiving their healthcare through private insurance providers (Amadeo, 2022). Guiding this policy are the examples of other nations such as Sri Lanka who have been using Universal Healthcare (Pallegedara and Grimm, 2017).
Are those rules effectively enforced?
This is yet to be determined through additional research, comparison, and analysis. Some may say yes, while others would claim not.
Is there a romance – reality disconnect in the policy? In other words, do people seem to expect a much more “public spirited” outcome than is realistic?
Universal healthcare is considered by many to be the savior of all modern healthcare inefficiencies. It is a potentially an example of a policy that is frequently viewed through rose-colored lenses. This policy project will attempt to determine, using case studies of countries where universal healthcare has been established, whether or not the benefits of universal healthcare in the United States would outweigh the drawbacks.
What is the collective action the policy is suppose to accomplish? Or is there one? Is the policy designed to favor some over others? Be sure to distinguish between actual results and rhetoric.
Collective action may play a roll only in getting Universal Healthcare enacted. There must be enough people willing to support such a policy over private health care. Universal Healthcare from a federal level would favor all who fall under its coverage, being all United States citizens. Further examination of the policy and case studies will reveal whether it disfavors any particular people or groups of people.
Is there a special interests involved? Who? Are they successful?
A potential special interest would be an insurance agency that would be the conduit through which healthcare would be provided to the nation. Though funded by income tax, the agency would almost certainly benefit from the business. Otherwise, special interests would more avoided by the de-privatization of healthcare.
Works Cited
Amadeo, Kimberly. (2022). “What is Universal Healthcare?”. The Balance. https://www.thebalance.com/universal-health-care-4156211
Pallegedara, & Grimm, M. (2017). Demand for private healthcare in a universal public healthcare system: empirical evidence from Sri Lanka. Health Policy and Planning, 32(9), 1267–1284. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czx085
Vladeck B. (2003). Universal health insurance in the United States: reflections on the past, the present, and the future. American journal of public health, 93(1), 16–19. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.93.1.16
World Health Organization. “Universal Health Coverage.”
Great topic. The belief that universal healthcare will solve all of the world's medical problems is a fallacy. An example that supporters of this policy love to use is that of Finland's healthcare system. However, it is not taken into account that the United States population is roughly 60 times that of Finland. Additionally, the definitional lines between the words privilege and fundamental rights have been blurred throughout time. Healthcare is a privilege, not a fundamental right. To add, should anyone seeking medical attention walk into a hospital today, they would not be turned away. The government should step back from the notion that it is only by way of them that people can receive care and leave this up to free-market competition.
Healthcare is a very important and discussed topic. About 1 in 10 people don't have healthcare in the United States. This makes it less likely for these individuals to have access to primary care doctors and unable to afford healthcare services and medications that they may need. There needs to be an increase in strategy to increase these rates of coverage for these individuals to obtain healthcare services such as wellness checks and preventive care for severe illnesses. We need to increase access to these providers as well as the communication these individuals may need.
Hello Daphne,
I like that you decided to do your policy topic on Universal Healthcare. The healthcare system in our nation has a tremendous effect on everyone. There are countless of homeless people in many states who don't have access to health care like most people do. This would be great to have for people who are in conditions such as this as there are many who get diseases, infections, and sickness from living out on the streets. I went to California once and the amount of homeless people I saw living on the streets made me want to cry as I felt so bad for them. The top thing we all need in our nation right now with everything going on is a new healthcare policy that would benefit everyone no matter what.
Daphne,
Healthcare has been a very sore subject in our nation. The fact that many Americans still can't afford it is a very troublesome issue. In 2008 President Obama instituted a healthcare program that would allow those in lower income areas to be able to afford it, and still there are many that can't. It has long been debated that we should follow the lead of our neighbors to the north and adopt a universal healthcare system that, as you point out, should provide for the people no matter when or where with no financial hardship to them. There has to be a larger number of the population and elected officials that get behind the idea of providing this service to the people in order for it to gain any traction and move forward. The issue I see is that the healthcare companies could potentially take a major hit to their bottom line with a program like this in place. The sad truth as I see it is that making money outweighs taking care of people in our nation and until we as a people put the needs and caring for others ahead of making money this will continue to be an issue for us.