Introduction

Healthcare is currently one of the most contentious issues plaguing the developed world from both a financial and societal perspective. American civilization is reckoning with an aging population, higher healthcare costs, and rising social security pressures to service an aging population. In addition, as COVID-19 has illustrated, the current healthcare infrastructure is not nimble enough to handle a sudden and unexpected change in societal health. Healthcare emergencies, as we are currently witnessing, can have grave and often life-threatening implications for individuals. Without proper infrastrure, health insurance, and ability to quickly pivot to address at-risk populations, the overall economy suffers. These negative and life-threatening influences are now being evaluated behind a political backdrop that aims to provide universal healthcare to all American citizens, further convoluting the healthcare problem overall. One such provision within the universal healthcare proposal is that of individual mandates. An individual mandate is a requirement, by law, for everyone to have a basis level of healthcare. Individuals who do not comply with the mandate will be fined, and in extreme cases jailed for not adhering to the provision. The provided a very interesting dynamic of individual rights versus the collective security of society. Both sides of the argument have very valid reasons that underpin their overall stance towards individual mandates. In this proposal, we will look to identify the views regarding the individual mandate providing insights into their pros and cons. Next, the proposal discusses government intervention and its role of infringing on individual rights. Finally, the proposal concludes with a synopsis of the findings with remarks using a Christian worldview.

To begin, healthcare within America is very large portion of the overall economy. As of 2020, healthcare expenditures account for roughly 18% of the nations GDP. Even more alarming, is the percentage of the nations output related to GDP has been increasing over the past decade. At its current trajectory, nearly 1 out of every 5 dollars will be spent on healthcare by the year 2030. Chart 1 below shows the percentage of healthcare expenditures relative to GDP in the United States. As the chart indicates, the United States, by far, has the highest healthcare expenditures relative to GDP as compared to any other nations spending roughly $11k per person on healthcare

Chart 1 Health Care Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP

Needless to say, this trajectory is very unsustainable and can have severe financial implications for society namely the solvency of the social security program. The baby boomer population is currently at or near

According to census data, all baby boomers will enter retirement age by the year 2030. Ultimately, this will mean roughly 73 million people will be retired and commanding some form of benefits or healthcare services in the future. Likewise, the overall population is now becoming older as women are electing not to have children and instead are joining the workforce. Fertility rates for women are now just 1.7 children versus the historical average of 2.1 children. This mismatch between younger and older individuals presents interesting dynamics as relates to healthcare costs and the individual mandates that requires healthcare insurance. As the population ages, those who will be utilizing healthcare services are likely to purchase insurance. These individuals, from a historical perspective are older and much more prone to requiring services. As noted above these services are becoming much more expensive on an annual basis and are now on track to account for nearly 1 out of every 5 dollars spent in the economy. Likewise, the older population is now living longer and thus have longer life expectancies after retirement. The average life...…to justify a individual mandate. Here, the rationale is based primarily on the collective good for society. As noted in the above paragraphs, healthcare costs are now on an unsustainable path forward. In America, healthcare costs are nearly twice those of other developed nations. Social security payments that can help pay for these higher costs, will be insolvent by 2037 unless corrective measures are taken. Society itself has a much older population that it now must support to remain viable and competitive with other countries. Women are not having as much children which lowers the amount of future payment support as children begin to enter their working ages. All of these influences therefore require some form of corrective action. The individual mandate is just one of a series of changes that need to be made to the healthcare system overall. Although people will be forced to purchase health insurance, by doing so, it improves the well being of society at large. If this is not elected, society will either pay much higher premiums, along with much higher taxes to support an even greater number of aging individuals. This in turn will lower discretionary income for all of society by a large amount than would be through an increase in health insurance premiums. This is borne from the worldview that all human beings have a right to healthcare services.

From a Christian worldview, I believe the individual mandate should be provided. In exchange for a premium, others can have access to lower cost health insurance and better access to services. Currently 5% of the nations population live at or below the poverty line. By having an individual mandate these individuals can also gain access to essential services needed by society. As Galatians 6:2 reads, Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law…