Health Care Reform In The United States

Eng 101
Medicare for All
Health care reform has been and will continue to be an ongoing debate. How can the United States take care of its ailing population? How can the people of America know in their hearts that their loved ones in the future will be taken care of? How can the United States pale in comparison with European countries, in regards to health care reform? Many believe it is an individual states decision on how medical expenses be paid, however other’s belief the states should all follow the federal governments lead. The main issue is health care cost will continue to increase because the United States citizens continue to foster blame towards the government. To decrease the cost of health care in the United States we as…show more content…
Payroll tax imposed on employees and employers enacted by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and Self Employment Contributions Act of 1954 which set a maximum amount of compensation of which Medicare tax could be imposed each year. Beginning in 1994, maximum limit was removed and a self-employed citizen has to pay the entire 2.9% tax on self-employed net earnings. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, commonly known as Obama Care, is set up to decrease the number of uninsured United States citizens and reduce the cost of health care. Many believe that with the PPAC, it will reduce premiums, prevent bankruptcy, illness, reduce out of pocket expenses, help pay for early retirees and reduce hidden tax on insured United States citizens. It is estimated that the PPAC will reduce the deficit by $100 billion and trillion dollars in the next decade. (Cutter) Medicare has many built in advantages to provide universal health care to all. Medicare is one of the nation’s most popular social programs. Medicare has an existing provider and payment structure giving enrollees almost universal access to any physician or hospital in the country. Medicare is proven to be more cost effective and efficient than private health insurance. (DuGoff). Medicare administrative costs are around 3% and private insurance is about…show more content…
The individual states would still have authority to determine allocation of Medicare funds and the federal government would continue to distribute monies to the state. Employers would have the option to provide coverage that supplements the benefits package available under Medicare. This single-payer system would replace the now employment-based system of financing health care. Over the last decade, many Americans have lost their jobs along with their health care benefits. The new Medicare for All programs would offer more coverage than the current Medicare system. There would be no cost sharing and coverage would be added for prescription drugs, medical equipment, home health care, early prevention, primary care and treatment for drug addiction. To overcome the resistance from some American’s to become a country were health care is provided to all, we would need to allow for a public option program. Physicians for a National Health Program have determined that the most cost-effective route is Medicare for all. Since the United States currently administers the health care system through private insurance companies, it has caused rationing. Private insurance company’s goal is to benefit the shareholders and employees, especially the top executives or six-figure incomes. To make a profit, they