Primer: Universal Healthcare
The United States currently uses a mixed healthcare system, in which there is government funded Medicare and Medicaid as well as private insurance coverage available. In most cases, people buy their own private insurance, jobs offer employer-sponsored insurance plans in return for a pre-tax deduction on your paycheck, or some qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare is a federal program that applies to senior citizens 65 and older, and people with certain disabilities or health conditions, while Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that covers lower income individuals. As of 2023, about 92% of Americans were insured in some way, with the majority, 65.4%, using private insurance and 36% using public. About 54% of that 65% receive insurance from their employer.
Our healthcare system is the most expensive in the world, but has consistently ranked lower than other comparable countries in quality of care and health outcomes. Americans consistently have a lower life expectancy than in other wealthy countries and face a higher frequency of age-related illnesses and chronic disease. The heavy amount of administrative work for both patients and healthcare providers leads to late diagnoses, delayed care, and higher out-of-pocket costs. As of 2024, 73 countries have Universal Healthcare systems, resulting in nearly 70% of the world population benefiting from some form of universal coverage. Almost every single high-income country utilizes a universal healthcare system, excluding the U.S.
However, many experts believe that our healthcare system is not solely responsible for Americans’ poor health, and other aspects of our lives lead to this disparity. Factors such as our food, city planning, and working conditions contribute to an overall unhealthier lifestyle that requires a greater reform than just our healthcare system. Some of these problems may be exacerbated by the disadvantages of private healthcare.
On the other hand, private healthcare allows for more specialized care for patients with unique circumstances, and customization of insurance plans. It enables many Americans to be more involved in their care, with the U.S. ranking high in doctor-patient relationships. Americans also report reduced wait times for primary care and procedures. In the U.S., private healthcare facilities are often nicer and fit with more amenities than public ones, which often experience overcrowding. Even in the UK, which placed third in the Commonwealth Fund’s report on health systems in different countries, in 2024 nearly 1 in 8 British opted for private healthcare either from their employers or by taking out their own policies, signaling a departure from their National Health Service (NHS) system
Come join our debate this Monday at 7pm in Scott Hall!
"EMT/Nursing Pediatric Emergency Simulation - April 2013 2" by COD Newsroom is licensed under CC BY 2.0.