“The healthcare in the U.
S”
INTRODUCTION:As far back as the beginning of the 1900s, President
Theodore Roosevelt once said that “Nothing can be more important to a state
than its public health: the state’s paramount concern should be the health of
its people” (Gallup and Newport 135).Many people claim that the United
States is classified as the nation with the most expensive healthcare system
due to itstechnological advances and futuristic medical innovations. Despite
these,the majority of Americans are greatly dissatisfied with the current
healthcare system which is prohibitively expensive and highly inefficient. As
an expensive healthcare system may lead to an increasing proportion of the
population being unable to access the much needed medical care.In this
essay, I strongly believe that completely universal or free healthcare is the
best for society since health is the greatest asset of a nation.
aragraph 1 - Free Health Care Leads To A Healthier Nation
P
+ Free health care would result ina healthier nationbecause people can visit
the doctors whenever they need.
Research by Wisk et al. showed that both middle and lower class families
+
were suffering from the high cost of health care.
Some families avoid going to the doctor when they are sick due to the high
+
cost of visiting the doctor and the insurance of health care.
In cases they have to visit the doctor, they often tend to not follow
+
prescriptions strictly to reduce cost.
+ This may be detrimental to a person’s health and cost more in the long run.
Paragraph 2 - Free Healthcare Prevents Medical Bankruptcy
+ Free health care could prevent medical bankruptcy.
A study in June 2022 found that the US could have saved $105.6 billion in
+
COVID-19 hospitalization costs with single-payer universal health care during
the pandemic.
+ This shows that universal health care could be a financially viable option.
It can protect people from the devastating financial impact because of
+
serious illness.
The potential to prevent medical bankruptcy is a strong argument for free
+
health care.
aragraph 3 - Free healthcare represents the principle of universal
P
access
Free health care should be taken into consideration because of the principle
+
of universal access.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that “everyone should have
+
access to the health services they need without being forced into poverty
when paying for them” (WHO, 2010).
With this, every citizen, regardless of their socio-economic background, can
+
have proper access to health services at a minimal cost or no cost at all.
This principle is currently not met in the US, where healthcare costs are a
+
leading cause of bankruptcy.
Implementing free health care could ensure that everyone has access to
+
necessary medical care.
Counter-Argument - High cost of implementing free health care
+ Critics believe that free health care could increase taxes as the government
would need to fund these services.
+ According to a report from the Mercatus Center, a Medicare-for-all plan can
cost about $32.6 trillion over 10 years.
Refute - The potential for cost savings
While it’s true that free health care would require significant funding, it’s
+
important to consider the potential of cost savings.
A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that transitioning to a
+
single-payer system could save over $600 billion each year on administrative
costs alone.
The current medical system has already involved significant public
+
spending.
Government sources account for nearly half of all health care spending in
+
the US.
