Though healthcare is currently very costly, studies show that universal healthcare would be cheaper than the current privatized system (Conor). Healthcare acts as an umbrella: covering a group of people by spreading out healthcare costs amongst everyone under the umbrella. The problem with a privatized system is that the umbrella can fluctuate due to competiveness between insurance companies. The United States has a privatized system of healthcare; and out of twenty-nine countries, the U.S. is doing the worst when it comes to healthcare (Conor). There are many reasons why this is so.
This is a historic federalism versus state rights conflict that has defined our nation throughout our entire history and continues to divide us politically, as evidenced in the recent presidential election. Thus, we rank high in many critical care and surgical services, but rank low in overall morbidity and mortality rates due our lack of comprehensive horizontally integrated healthcare services that extend far beyond our hospital borders. We spend approximately 18.4 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare, which is almost double that of any other industrialized nation. Part A of the Medicare Trust Fund is due to go bankrupt in 2017. The need to offer higher healthcare quality and service at lower costs requires incentives for innovative delivery systems and new ways of working with fewer resources.
The current healthcare system in the U.S. may not be a true reflection of the concept of Universal Healthcare. Many scholars argue that, for an industrialized nation, the U.S. system leaves a lot to be desired in terms of coverage of its citizens. According to Chua (2006), the U.S. is the only “industrialized nation that does not offer any form of universal healthcare to its citizens”. As opposed to other developed nations, quality healthcare in the U.S. is a privilege to those who can pay for it. The author offers the opinion that the American healthcare system is more of an “economic good” rather than the “social or public good” it should be.
There have always been reasons to why the U.S. has not taken the step towards universal healthcare. Insurance companies could end up losing many different patrons, the enduring anti-government sentiment, the complications of this type of health care, and even the racial politics of the South have kept the United States from taking the next step towards universal coverage (Quandagno 12). The inevitable truth is that the United States needs socialized medicine, even if it is hard to come by. Health care costs more per person in the U.S. than in any other nation in the world (“Health Systems” 1). According to the US Census, the percentage of citizens within the United States without any type of health care coverage was 15.3%, or 45.7 million people, in 2007(U.S. Census 9).
Some of the key stakeholders encompassed in the act are as such the ordinary citizen who cannot afford the basic healthcare. Others include the government bodies like the finance and the health department for the provision of those services. The other major stake holder is the private health sector which should not be left out in the analysis of the ppaca. This act has seen some infighting amongst the congressmen but eventually it has sailed through to the presidential assent. However a journal published by the United States department of justice stated that most of the cases that were challenging the act were “unable to demonstrate any sufficient standing” united states department of justice (2011).
FTC is paying attention to healthcare matters in a significant manner. As much as healthcare professionals and senior management perceive to be undertaking what’s best for the patient, it’s not the same viewpoint as the FTC. The FTC views HCOs as any other business that competes in a market with numerous challenges and risks such as monopoly. With this in mind, the Renown Health organization indulged in uncompetitive practices by acquiring or merging with the only two main cardiology medical groups in Reno. This increased its market share to above 80% in the cardiology practice (Gamble, 2013).
It also covers a number of preventive services without charging a probate deductible. Insurances providers will be required to publicly justify rate increase, and consumers will now have the ability to appeal to an independent third party when providers deny coverage for services. This Act is very beneficial to me in numerous of ways, simply because I have a real bad asthma problem and all the treatments I need are very expensive. My family isn’t really financially able to afford the medicine I need so thanks to the Affordable Healthcare Act signed by Obama more Americans as well as I are either fully insured or have some type of insurance. Middle class Americans who wasn’t able to apply for Medicaid are now eligible
In comparison, the United States and Canada’s health care systems could not be more distinctly different. The advantage of the American healthcare is access for some people to the best care in the world but limited access for many to the most basic
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.
It is truly in all Americans’ best interest to urge reform immediately (New Corporate Alliance Urges Universal Care).
 The issue with implementing a system for universal coverage in the United States is not about the will to help people, it’s a fundamental struggle between the values of freedom and order. While it can be easily argued that the order provided by the universal healthcare systems in first world countries across the globe has created stability and equality, it is important to take into account the strong sense of freedom of choice that makes the United States so different from every other country in the world. Americans now have the choice to buy or not to buy health insurance and that right to freedom of choice cannot be ignored (Patients' Freedom of Conscience: The Case for Values-Driven