Universal Healthcare

Universal healthcare is certainly an intriguing prospect. There are a number of proponents for this form of healthcare and, within the United States, at least, perhaps an equal (as well as equally vociferous) amount of dissidents. Nonetheless, universal healthcare is a reality throughout Europe. In North America, it has long been implemented in Canada with effective results and little reason for disparagement.

When one considers these two examples, as well as the numerous advantages that universal healthcare presents for the society that implements it, it becomes perfectly clear that universal healthcare should get instituted within the United States, as well. Perhaps the most cogent reasons for the efficacy and utility of universal healthcare are found when comparing it to the current system of healthcare in the United States. At present, healthcare in America involves individuals paying for nearly every aspect of services related to this industry.

Perhaps the lone exception is in some of the preventative care that individuals have access to with the recent passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act. Still, to access those purportedly 'free' preventative care measures -- which generally include a yearly physical and the requisite blood work -- individuals must enroll in exorbitant health insurance plans with premiums numbering thousands of dollars a year in expenses (and which are almost certainly higher after the implementation of this act than they were for individuals beforehand) (Matthews and Litow).

With universal healthcare, however, every person in the country is guaranteed healthcare regardless of economic conditions (Guileford). Everyone has equal access to healthcare, and as such, money is typically not a factor in determining whether or not individuals should properly take care of their bodies. Equal access to services regardless of pecuniary concerns is perhaps the most convincing reason for the implementation of a universal healthcare system. Another reason why universal healthcare is advantageous is because it provides a tangible demonstration of a particular country's commitment to its citizens.

In this respect, universal healthcare is actually a facet of nationalism, in some regards. However, it is so in a rational, non-political manner that merely underscores the fact that a country has a vested interest in the health of its citizens. When considering this boon associated with universal healthcare, it is necessary to clarify some of the implicit and explicit facets of nation states. Every country depends on the labor of its citizens for its economy.

Whatever it chooses to export (and, to a lesser degree perhaps, export) is largely dependent upon the means of its people to labor effectively. Provisioning universal healthcare for these people indicates a nation's commitment to its labor pool, its national economy, its gross domestic product (GDP), and other facets of its nation. It is in the best interest of a country to keep its citizens healthy to provide a steady, effective labor supply because conversely, healthy, well cared for citizens actually provide the optimum labor supply.

Thus, universal healthcare is actually recommendable because it can enhance the overall utility of a country by readily supplying it with healthy workers that can advance the interests of that country better than unhealthy workers ever could. Countries without universal healthcare are indifferent to their labor supply and are looking to readily discard older or unfit workers for new ones. Additionally, universal health care is the only way to ensure that all individuals in a particular country are able to have health insurance.

This fact is best demonstrated by utilizing the United States and its varieties of health care. Prior the passage and full implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, there were a number of individuals in this country who could not get healthcare because, quite simply, insurance companies would either decline to insure them or offer them insurance at rates that were so exorbitant that these people could not afford them.

As recently as 2013, "The number of Americans without insurance is over 45 million according to the National Coalition on Health Care" (Ireland). In fact, it was because of this high number of uninsured people that the Patient and Affordable Care Act was touted in the media as a some sort of a panacea. After virtually all aspects of the aforementioned act were implemented, however, there still is a problem with insuring Americans -- mostly due to the outrageous increase in premiums.

The author of this document has seen a 300% increase in the premiums for health care insurance since the Act has begun in earnest in 2014 and 2015. Those steep premiums (which do not include additional payments once an individual chooses to utilize those services) are also keeping people from procuring health insurance. Before the act there was a smaller percentage of the population (if 45 million people can be regarded as small) that had to contend with high premiums.

After the act, everyone has to contend with high premiums -- which are a huge incentive to not obtain healthcare, and instead pay the penalty that is modest in comparison to the astronomical premiums. The solution for such a situation is clear: universal healthcare, in which everyone is guaranteed health care coverage. Finally, the ultimate benefit of universal healthcare is the fact that people are able to maintain their health much more effectively than in situations in which only the wealthy can afford to pay for healthcare.

Interestingly enough, this latter situation is found in the United States more than ever now after virtually all facets of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have taken effect. With so many varying economic implications surrounding the issue of health care and universal healthcare, it is easy to forget that the point of these issues is the salutary well being of the individual and of the population as a collective.

There is no better way of ensuring the health of the individual than by offering universal healthcare which provides uniform access to services. In this respect, universal healthcare greatly benefits those that would not have been able to pay for healthcare in a capitalist system in which insurances companies regularly monetarily gouge citizens with costly premiums. However, one should also recognize the fact that the affluent do not lose.