Americans are torn on the issue of national health care coverage. Health care cost has risen dramatically due to advancements in technology, proliferation of medical specialty, inflation, growth of aging population, and desires and demands of service users. What are the benefits of national health care coverage? Will it really reduce the cost of health care for everyone? Taking a closer look into the health care debate will help one answer these questions and more.
Universal health care (UHC) is a form of health coverage which is provided by a government so that all of its citizens have access to health services. UHC is a system of providing health coverage for any and all willing participants. This system usually goes through a government program that is funded by taxes. The United States is the only developed country in the world to not have a UHC system for its citizens. Medicaid and Medicare do not count because they target a select group of citizens. It is important to note the distinction between universal health care and socialized medicine before one can proceed. Many people confuse the terms. Under UHC hospitals, doctors, drug companies, nurses, dentists, etc. can all remain independent. They can be for-profit or non-profit. In socialized medicine, the whole industry goes through the government. So, if someone wanted to be a doctor, one would work for the government (Bendery 2012).
The next great health care debate involves the implementation of UHC. Many private and public organizations are weighing in on the issue. Those who support the idea of UHC are passionate about everyone having access to healthcare as a right of being a United States citizen; however, those who are against a government run health care system are concerned with the government’s ability to effectively administer such a big responsibility. Although UHC will become law, the country is still spilt on the issue. All the while, 45 million people are still uninsured waiting for a...