Universal health care
From Free net encyclopedia
Universal health care is a health care system in which all residents of a geographic or political entity are covered, regardless of medical condition<ref>Massachusetts Nursing Association. "Single Payer Health Care: A Nurses Guide to Single Payer Reform."</ref>.
What is covered under universal health care
Universal health care systems vary in what services are covered completely, covered partially, or not covered at all. Some of these services may include medically necessary services from physicians, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mammography screenings, immunization services, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV testing, optometry and opticianry services, alcohol and drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation services, mental health services, gambling addiction services, dentistry services, prescription drugs, medical supplies and appliances, podiatry services, chiropractic services, emergency medical transportation, nursing home care, home care services<ref>Saskatchewan Health. "Coverage".</ref>.
How are universal health care systems funded
The majority of universal health care systems are funded primarily by tax revenue. Some nations, such as Germany and France, employ a multi-payer system in which health care is funded by private and public contributions <ref name="Physicians 1">Physicians for a National Health Program"International Health Systems".</ref>.
What does "single-payer" mean?
The term, "single-payer," refers to a health care system in which only one entity is billed for all medical costs, typically a government-run universal health care agency or department<ref name="PNHP">Physicians for a National Health Program"What is Single Payer?".</ref>. Instead of billing the patient directly, government agencies (such as Medicare or DSHS), and any number of private insurance companies, a doctor or pharmacist need only bill the universal health care agency. This service is also offered in the private sector by entities known as "cash flow companies" in the medical billing industry. Such entities provide the benefit of single-payer, including reduced paperwork and guaranteed payment. However, these benefits are often neutralized by the fees associated with employing a cash flow company's services. Such fees typically would not exist in a government-run universal health care system, since a government agency does not need to concern itself with turning a profit.
Countries with universal health care
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Seychelles<ref>Ministry of Health - Seychelles</ref>, the US State of Massachusetts, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and The United Kingdom are among many countries that have various types of universal health care systems <ref name="Physicians 1">.
Support for universal health care
- Health care is a right.<ref name="CESR">Center for Economic and Social Rights. "The Right to Health in the United States of America: What Does it Mean?" October 29, 2004.</ref><ref name="NHCHC">National Health Care for the Homeless Council. "Human Rights, Homelessness and Health Care".</ref>
Support for universal health care
- Health care is a right.<ref name="CESR">Center for Economic and Social Rights. "The Right to Health in the United States of America: What Does it Mean?" October 29, 2004.</ref><ref name="NHCHC">National Health Care for the Homeless Council. "Human Rights, Homelessness and Health Care".</ref>
- Provides coverage to all citizens.<ref name="Messerli">Messerli, Joe. "Should the Government Provide Free Universal Health Care for All Americans?" BalancedPolitics.org. March 1, 2006.</ref>
- Health care increasingly unaffordable for businesses and individuals.<ref name="Messerli"/>
- People suffering from chronic, potentially fatal illness are not discouraged from seeking medical care as they are under a privatized system.<ref name="CUHC">Craig, Kristopher D. "Why I'm Doing This" Citizens for Universal Health Care: CraigBlog. February 13th, 2006.</ref>
- Simply having more wealth and privilege should not make someone more deserving of quality medical care in the eyes of an enlightened society.<ref name="CUHC"/>
- Reduces wastefulness and inefficiencies in the delivery of health care.<ref name="Messerli"/>
- A centralized national database makes diagnosis and treatment easier for doctors.<ref name="Messerli"/>
- Low-income parents have to choose between putting food on the table or taking their sick child to the doctor under a privatized system.<ref name="CUHC"/>
- Medical professionals can concentrate on treating patients rather than on administrative duties.<ref name="Messerli"/>
- Encourages patients to seek preventive care enabling problems to be detected and treated earlier.<ref name="Messerli"/>
- Private insurance companies are more concerned with maximizing profit than they are with providing adequate, honest coverage to the insured.<ref name="CUHC"/>
Opposition to universal health care
- Health care is not a right.<ref name="Goodman">Goodman, John. "Five Myths of Socialized Medicine." Cato Institute: Cato's Letter. Winter, 2005.</ref><ref name="Sade">Sade RM. "Medical care as a right: a refutation." N Engl J Med. 1971 Dec 2;285(23):1288-92. PMID 5113728. (Reprinted as "The Political Fallacy that Medical Care is a Right.")</ref>
- Increased waiting times in some cases.<ref name="Goodman"/>
- Unequal access and health disparities still exist in some universal health care systems.<ref name="Goodman"/>
- Government agencies may be less efficient due to bureaucracy.<ref name="Messerli"/><ref name="Goodman"/>
- Must be funded with higher taxes and/or spending cuts in other areas.<ref name="Messerli"/>
- Profit motives, competition, and individual ingenuity lead to greater cost control and effectiveness.<ref name="Messerli"/>
- Uninsured citizens can sometimes still receive health and emergency care from alternative sources such as nonprofits and government-run hospitals.<ref name="Messerli"/>
- Healthy people who take care of themselves have to pay for the burden of those who smoke, are obese, etc.<ref name="Messerli"/>
- Causes loss of insurance industry jobs and other business closures in the private sector.<ref name="Messerli"/>
References
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See also
Examples
- Medicare (Australia)
- Medicare (Canada)
- National Health Service (United Kingdom)
- Masshealth (Massachusetts, USA; 4/12/06)
Related topics
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Medical savings account
- Publicly-funded medicine
- Two-tier health care
External links
Supporting universal health care
- Citizens for Universal Health Care (CUHC)
- American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
- Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care
- Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP)
- Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN)