The idea of having Universal Healthcare in America seems to still be a discussion that has been heavily debated for years, but should it really? When it comes to this debate, I am of the mindset that it should be instituted. When you give the people the right to universal health care, it could improve the overall public health of our country. Universal health care could possibly stop medical bill bankruptcies. It could mean an increase in productivity in the workplace, which could lead to more economic gain for businesses. Some people are hesitant to start their own private businesses because they don’t want to lose health insurance with their current jobs. I will be presenting the arguments as to why universal healthcare is important to our society.
Without healthcare, people are less likely to go to the doctor, and in the United States, 33% less likely to have a regular doctor (Lasser 1300). When you are without a primary care physician, the idea of going to the doctor can become an even more arduous task. Consider the idea of waiting in a packed hospital, waiting for what could be hours before you are even seen by a nurse or a doctor. This could lead the average American that is without health insurance to not even go to the hospital. Due to the lack of healthcare and a reluctance to visit a doctor due to the financial strain that medical bills may cause, this results in long-standing illnesses and injuries going untreated. This may cause disabilities and even possibly lead to death. In the case of people with injuries, if someone is suffering from pre-existing conditions there is a possibility that companies can refuse them coverage based on that fact. Through the Affordable Care Act, a clause was put into effect to stop companies from doing just that for people that were without Medicare or Medicaid.
Contagious diseases are spread through lack of treatment and knowledge. Free health care could mean the stopping of the current resurgence in diseases ranging from measles, the flu, or even more extreme diseases like polio. Although polio was eradicated from America, there are still cases of it around the world. With as little as another person visiting the United States and spreading these diseases to untreated victims, a resurgence would be inevitable. The only preventative measures to this are through widespread vaccinations, and a better understanding of how outbreaks work. This would be an easier undertaking through the use of government controlled free health insurance. The government would be able to reach more people and give them the access to knowledge about health and disease spread through classes about prevention. With this change, Americans could have a better chance in protecting themselves and their health. While this may not lead to a decline in health problems that are genetic or inherited, it would mean consumers can have better options and knowledge about when it comes to picking healthcare providers. This would allow patients the healthcare they need at affordable prices instead of companies charging absurd pricing for needed medications such as insulin.
Medical bankruptcies could be halted with the right to free healthcare. In 2007, 62% of all US bankruptcies were related to medical expenses (Himmelstein 1). I find that this statistic strikes home for me considering a few years ago I myself was in an accident. I had to go to the hospital, where I found out first-hand how expensive a trip to the ER is. That visit ended with me being charged over $4000 dollars in total. I did not have any kind of health insurance under my parents and I could not afford to have my own health insurance while working a minimum wage job. With a hefty bill of $4000 and with a pay rate of 8.75 dollars an hour it would take well over 400 hours of work hours to pay off. I was able to pay only a portion of that through underlying circumstances but the fact that I had to come out of pocket with such an astronomical price is detrimental. Though not all people admitted into the hospital for serious injuries are as lucky as I was. These bill prices, especially for accidents that are not preventable and can lead to loss of work, can lead to tremendously large bills for fairly simple visits. The idea of having to go to the hospital and being given an enormous bill for what could possibly be a minor procedure can lead anyone to not go at all. Instances like this happen all across America; people suffering from injuries that need medical attention, but their fear of what it would cost is worse than the fear of how badly they are hurt, and no person should have to worry about money when their health and safety may very well be at risk. This also does not also account for people that can not afford to take all the necessary tests that they need while at hospitals or doctors offices because of the expense accrued by other tests they had taken, meaning there can be chances of not getting an accurate diagnosis about their conditions.
Having your own personal doctor can lead many to actually making more regular visits, leading to more productivity at work. If the populous is given access to Universal Health Care, it would mean that they are on average in a more healthy place and would be less likely to miss work due to sickness or injury. Reports have shown that the US economy loses $65-$130 billion annually through lessened worker productivity, which is money lost from private and commercial business alike (Hidden Costs 2). Having workers that are less likely to call out sick from work – or in the most extreme cases, pass away from lack of health care – can lead to improved profit margins for companies. If health insurance is universal and free or low-cost, that would lessen the pressure put onto small businesses to provide health care for its workers, leading to more growth across most industries.
If a person is not fearful of losing their current health care through their job, they may be more likely to risk venturing out and starting independent ventures. A 2011 study found that 59.5% of Americans were receiving health-care from their employers. If universal health care was provided for those entrepreneurs, self-employment could increase by 2 to 3.5 percent (Wellington 465). Working at a job that has a secured health care plan is reassuring, and the thought of not having that anymore can make some hesitant. Having to contend with a newly started business and the cost of all of that and having to pay for your own insurance can be an unneeded and in some cases an overly expensive addition. This would all lead to the possible increase in new businesses with the increase to access of health insurance through the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges (57). Assuming new businesses arise because of health care coverage, this can vastly create improvements for many communities regardless of the local socio-economic status of a given population. In turn if people in lower income neighbourhoods are less burdened with the stress of expensive health insurances that could lead to more money being used to improve the community through an increase in self owned local shops. This would in turn go back into said community, leading to more growth in the economic standing of its residents.
When it comes to whether or not universal health care should be passed and established in America to me the decision is very easy. The benefits to the citizens’ way of life through the overall public health of our country is tremendous. The possible ending of having to worry about medical bankruptcies through ridiculously high hospital bills that the average person is not able to pay off is another point in favor of legalizing universal health care. Improvement of productivity in the workplace from less time spent at home sick would also improve the financial gain of businesses through less sick days taken by employees. Lastly, an increase in more self employed individuals creating privately owned businesses would be seen because they won’t be afraid to lose some kind of healthcare through their previous employers. When you weigh all of the positive things that it can do for the American people, and for our economy, passing the law that makes health care free for all citizens is something that in my opinion would only improve our society as a whole.