Universal Health Insurance: Are We Ready?

The United States may be one of the richest countries in the world, but among industrialized countries we also stand out for another reason: we're practically alone in not providing health care for our citizens. Most countries in Europe have single-payor health insurance programs that ensure this basic need is taken care of for their people. As a result, most of those countries and Canada all score much higher than us on measures of rates of illness and on death. In fact, our health care system routinely scores lower than a large number of these countries, despite being the most expensive. Why it that?

Understanding Single-Payor Systems

Despite what you've heard about the dangers of universal health care in the past, the United States already has such a program in place: it's called Medicare. In a single-payor system, the insurer works with medical providers to determine how much to pay for certain care, including immunizations, routine tests, types of surgeries, and prescriptions. Some systems do require co-payments or premiums to be paid and most countries allow private supplemental insurance to be purchased by those who can afford to do so.

Critics of universal health care argue that providing medical insurance to all Americans would lead to a dramatic tax increase. Yes, insuring everyone will be expensive but we are already spending a great deal of money on medical insurance that covers only some of us and not always very well. Take the French system, for example. They only spend 11% of the GDP on medical insurance. Right now, we spend 15%. The French ensure everyone while we have 93 million uninsured and underinsured Americans in our population. Which country is getting a better deal for their investment?

On the subject of cost, we also have to look at the potential savings a universal health insurance system would generate. We could save $150 billion on paperwork alone! Plus, another $50 billion could be saved because of bulk-purchasing of prescriptions. Switching to a single payor system would also help our businesses who already spend a significant portion of their revenue on premiums for their workers.

Future of American Medical Insurance

The entire health care industry needs an overhaul. The costs of becoming a physician are so expensive that fewer people can afford to choose this important career. People are turning away from nursing and other health care professions. Plus, the rising costs of individual health insurance means fewer people can afford this option and the increasing premiums are causing more employers to end these types of benefits for their workers. The bottom line is that without some type of change soon our health care in the United States will be in shambles.

Universal health care, however, could improve the situation. The change could be phased in over the course of 15 years. Physicians and other health care providers could sign up to provide their services through the program. Current private health insurance firms may become administrators. Every person in the United States would have all of their medical needs paid for regardless of their income, employer, age, or pre-existing health conditions. By adopting a single-payor system, we would not only be saving our health insurance programs but also the health of every citizen.

Get a Health Plan by calling or clicking below

 

* required

* First and Last Name
*Your date of birth Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Day 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Year 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900
*Gender Select Male Female	*Smoker Select No Yes
*Zip Code	* Phone - -

Complete Health Insurance Guide
Health Insurance News Covered
Health Insurance at VitalOne
Family Healthcare Plans at VitalOne
How to Buy Health Insurance Online
How to Buy Short Term Health Insurance
How to Determine Your Health Insurance...
How to Determine the Right Health...
HealthCare Plans for Young Adults
 Children Health Insurance Plans
 What is a Co-Payment? a deductible?
 Health Savings Account (HSA)

 
Read Ana's HealthCare blog  How to Buy Individual & Family Healthcare Insurance Plans: Know what type of healthcare coverage you need because comparing Health Insurance Plans can be tricky, more of choosing Health Insurance