To have the best health
insurance in the United States you must obviously make a lot of money to be
able to afford it. Healthcare here seems to be more of a privilege for people,
only available to those who can afford it, rather than it being available for
everyone. Other countries however have in place a type
of healthcare that provides its citizens with medical
help whenever and wherever they need it. This is known as
Universal Health Care, which according to the World HealthOrganization, is defined as, “Ensuring that
all people can use the pro-motive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and
palliative health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective,
while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to
financial hardship.” The United
States should put into effect a Universal Healthcare law so that public health
is improved and to decrease mortality rates.
Having
Universal Health care in the United States will benefit the nation as a whole
because we would be a much healthier country. The United States, as stated in ProCon, is one of the only developed
countries of the
34 members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development who does not provide its
citizens with this type of health care, which is ironic since we are also the
country that spends the most on health insurance, yet our health care is the
least efficient. There are many diseases
and viruses that could be prevented from spreading or causing too much harm if
only health care was provided to everyone. People would be able to seek help
whenever they needed to, not fearing having to pay ridiculous amounts of money
on medical bills or being turned down. Many deaths would also be prevented,
since tens of thousands of people die due to not being able to afford medical
help.
According
to a 2009 study from Harvard researchers, "Lack of
health insurance is associated with as many as 44,789 deaths per year,"
take note that this was years ago, imagine how much higher the rate has become.
There are thousands of people who are left to die due to lack of health
insurance because they aren't able to afford it, and even if they go to the
hospital for help, they are neglected because they aren't able to pay the
medical bills. For example, in a documentary called Sicko, a
woman took her daughter to the hospital because she had a high fever but since
she didn’t have any health insurance they refused to care for her 3 year old
daughter and she passed away. Yet, in France, a woman with a similar problem
had her daughter cared for at no cost due to their Universal Health Care law.
It is extremely crazy,
how we think our country is so great yet we tend to care more about problems
outside of the country instead of helping the people here to be the best nation
in all aspects, we can be. We recently had a large expansion of health
insurance coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama
Care, which as said in a P.N.H.P article,
if it is to work effectively, will insure an additional twenty-six million more
Americans by 2024. The United States pay way more money on health care than any
other country, yet the health insurance here, people's health and deaths due to
our "great" yet poor system, are worse than those countries who pay
much less. This type of health care system has proven to be successful in
countries who have it and it’s crazy how we, the U.S doesn’t have it, yet other
undeveloped countries do. Many people are still hesitant for the U.S to adopt
this policy because taxes will rise but I mean come on, it makes sense to pay
extra every year knowing that you are able to go to whatever hospital or doctor
and not get neglected help. The United States should establish a Universal
Health Care policy so that our nation as a whole is much healthier and to
decrease mortality rates caused to not being able to afford health insurance.
Cited Sources:
Andrew P. Wilper, Steffie
Woolhandler, Karen E. Lasser, and Danny McCormick, et al., "Health Insurance and Mortality in US
Adults," American Journal of Public Health, Dec. 2009
Hanning,
Hedda. "We Need Universal Health Care Coverage for All." We
Need Universal Health Care
Coverage for All. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.
Kliff,
Sarah. "8 Facts That Explain What's Wrong with American Health
Care." 8 Facts
That Explain What's Wrong with American Health Care. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.
"What
Is Universal Coverage?" WHO. World Health Organization. Web.
30 Oct. 2015.
Well said Yara, I have to agree with you on several points, If not all of what you argued about.
ReplyDeleteI think it is absurd how people are against Universal Health Care. It is unbelievable how many people are concerned about higher taxes over human life. Universal Health Care or not, citizens are being charged with tax money, in which most of the time no benefits are seen. Citizens choose to raise taxes for other things such as unnecessary roads but yet hesitate to raise taxes to help out themselves. I rather pay a higher tax, but to be ensured medical assistance to my family and self. Unfortunately, not all US citizens have enough resources and money to provide their families with health care. Not to long ago I wrote an article in which I explain how we are trying to sustain a life we can no longer afford, in which I go on explaining how the US has rapidly lost its glory and has become a second world country. This only shows how the US is not looking out for its citizens and its not concern with their health and well being.
Just like many nations that have this Universal Health Care we could imitate them by which it would benefit our overall health making it easier and more affordable access health care. This way we would not have to hesitate and worry about not being able to pay medical bills or not being able to get check. Doing this we could detect sicknesses and other illnesses, preventing major outbreaks like in the past. Just like you said Healthcare seems to be more of a privilege, only available to those who can afford it, rather than it being available for everyone, because not everyone has the luxury to afford certain Medical Insurance but everyone has the need and should have the right to see a professional.
YES!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading “Yes for Universal Health Care in United States” I agree with Yara Ramirez, that everyone should have access to the healthcare they need. As defined by the World Health Organization, Universal Healthcare is “Ensuring that all people can use the pro-motive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to financial hardship.” These preventative services play an important role in keeping America Healthy. A change this big will improve our nation in so many ways. Imagine a elementary school that has a nurse on site that cares for the students. Colds would spread less due to the children receiving care on site at the school. Children would not miss school due to a doctors appointment. This will enhance healthy living and be the best possible learning environment for a child.
Mark Zuckerberg has worked to create a private school that brings education and healthcare together. While this is a great idea I believe this type of partnership would occur more often is we had Universal Healthcare. Building incentives for healthy living will also help everyone understand the importance of healthy lifestyle. I see Universal Healthcare as way to work and grow together as a healthy community.