The Case for Compassionate Care
Introduction:
As Walter Cronkite said, “America's healthcare system is neither healthy, caring, nor a
system.” While it has been over a half-century since America’s most trusted news anchor
acknowledged the inadequacy of United States’ healthcare, not much has changed with the
system. Nowadays, there is an increasing, well-supported frustration with the unjust system, yet
the voices of dissatisfied citizens have not been taken into account by most politicians. However,
if single-payer, government-provided health care was created for America, it would mend many
of the problems associated with the current arrangement. In other words, universal health care
should be installed in the United States to make the country a better, safer place to live in.
Arguments:
Firstly, universal healthcare could fix many issues with the current American healthcare
system. Professor Anders Fremstad from the University of Colorado claims, “Because of
the concentration of healthcare spending on a few sick and injured individuals, private
insurers will seek to save costs by identifying and avoiding such people” (Lopez). Fremstad
provides an example of unethical practices that are prevalent within the current system, as seen
with the exclusion of unwell citizens. The implementation of such horrific actions is because
companies have industrialized a human right. Without corrupt businesses interfering with health
care, the system would be much more humane, since the current one clearly prefers enterprise
over human lives. In contrast, one of the foundational aspects of universal health care is
that--unsurprisingly--it is universal. Every U.S. citizen would have access to basic, equal
coverage--which the modern system, as shown, cannot provide. Those who need expensive
medicine will be able to attain it easily and for a lower cost with a universal system. In addition,
they will not need to worry about getting rejected from coverage plans for being sick or injured.
If universal health care was established, the current profit-driven system could be replaced by a
fair and accessible one.
While naysayers may argue that installing single-payer health care would only add to the
infamous national debt while dramatically increasing taxes, the opposite is true. There is strong
evidence that utilizing such a system could actually save the U.S. money. For instance, Senator
Bernie Sanders has a plan which would accomplish this. His plan includes increasing
household income taxes by roughly two percent, as well as limiting tax deductions for the
rich to pay for the added expenses (“Medicare for All”). The plan will efficiently use allotted
money rather than overtax normal citizens. A major benefit of Sanders’s plan is outlined by a
Washington Post article which states, “On its current trajectory, the United States is
projected to spend $7.65 trillion annually on health care by 2031...That number would drop
to $7.35 trillion if Sanders’s plan were implemented...Over time, that adds up to a net
savings of about $2.1 trillion” (Stein). The numbers prove that with sound universal health
care, the U.S. could save money while achieving a multitude of benefits for residents. Any
chance to save money should be taken, especially if this money could be better spent on
enhancing the lives of citizens. Instead of unwisely spending a substantial amount of money on
substandard care, universal health care could easily reduce costs for the government while
improving the system.
In addition, not only would a single-payer system save the government money, but it
would also aid private businesses. Companies usually pay for employee medical coverage as a
job perk, but this ends up making those businesses spend an unnecessary amount on expensive
health care. As the Kaiser Family Foundation found in their 2015 study on health insurance
costs, “In 2015, the average premium for single coverage is $521 per month, or $6,251 per
year. The average premium for family coverage is $1,462 per month or $17,545 per year”
(“Health”). Attaining quality health care coverage for employees is extremely expensive for
businesses. Nonetheless, a job with included healthcare is more desirable, meaning that many
businesses want to provide this service for employees. However, it is difficult to supply the steep
amount of money for coverage. With universal healthcare, these costs would be eradicated, and
industries could spend the money previously given to healthcare for other expenditures, such as
higher salaries, better work environments, international exports, and more. The effect of this
would allow the overall economy to profit, as companies achieve a higher level of prosperity
from these investments. Overall, universal healthcare would uplift the national economy as it
would allow businesses to pursue beneficial interests with their additional money.
Finally, universal healthcare would protect the lives of the American people, as providing
healthcare to all citizens is linked to a reduction of mortality rates. Those who own insurance
experience “a 20 percent relative reduction in death compared to being uninsured”
(Gunaratna). However, the current system clearly does not care about these consequences, since
it neglects practically thirty million American citizens, all of whom are uninsured as of June
2018 (“National”). Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance
(Cecere). Statistics consistently show how lack of health coverage takes lives, yet healthcare has
not been provided to those in danger of increased mortality. Universal health care would give
insurance to those who do not have it, subsequently saving millions of lives, since every
American citizen would be able to access the life-saving advantages that come from coverage.
Future:
In conclusion, there is an extremely strong and reasonable argument for a single-payer,
universal system. The creation of a fair system, economic benefits, and protection of human lives
are all reasons why universal healthcare should be installed in the United States. It should be a
priority of America to change the status quo to one that would better the lives of all citizens and
make the country a healthier place to live. Universal health care must no longer be a utopian
fantasy-- it should become a reality. There should be no reason to hesitate when it comes to
saving lives. Already, acts such as the Affordable Care Act and Colorado’s implementation of
universal healthcare have proven that the American people truly want a healthcare system that
cares for them. Now is the time to create a new system: one that is healthy, caring, and above all,
universal.
Works Cited
Cecere, David. “New Study Finds 45,000 Deaths Annually Linked to Lack of Health Coverage.”
Harvard Gazette, Harvard Gazette, 6 May 2017,
news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2009/09/new-study-finds-45000-deaths-annually-linked-to
-lack-of-health-coverage/.
Stein, Jeff. “Does Bernie Sanders's Health Plan Cost $33 Trillion - or Save $2 Trillion?” The
Washington Post, WP Company, 31 July 2018,
www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/does-bernie-sanderss-health-plan-cost-33-tril
lion--or-save-2-trillion/2018/07/31/d178b14e-9432-11e8-a679-b09212fb69c2_story.html?
utm_term=.89726834cd3d.
Gunaratna, Shanika. “Health Insurance Can Make a Life or Death Difference, Study Says.” CBS
News, CBS Interactive, 26 June 2017,
www.cbsnews.com/news/health-insurance-saves-lives-study-says/.
“Health Costs.” The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 9 Oct. 2018, www.kff.org/health-costs/
Lopez, Anamaria, et al. “The Economic Case for Single Payer Health Care in the US.” Institute
for New Economic Thinking,
www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/the-economic-case-for-single-payer-health-care
-in-the-us.
“Medicare for All: Leaving No One Behind.” Bernie Sanders,
berniesanders.com/issues/medicare-for-all/.
“National Center for Health Statistics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 31 Mar. 2017,
www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/health-insurance.htm.