Universal Healthcare:
Why The United States Should Adopt It
Written by Mia Romero
What Is Universal Healthcare?
Universal healthcare is a healthcare system provided by the government of a country that ensures medical care to everyone. It allows for procedures, medications, and access to medical care of little to no cost. There are many who critique this healthcare system as they believe it will become a burden in the long run. A major argument used by this side is that an increase of taxes that would inevitably occur to sustain it.
The Critique.
Finland, a country famously known for its free-healthcare system, is funded under the Nordic model, a model that uses “relatively high levels of taxation... to provide high-quality education and affordable healthcare” (Vandoorne and Bell). In fact, an individual who lives in Finland pays “a net average tax rate of 30%, compared to 23.8% in the United States” (Vandoorne and Bell). Almost a 10% tax increase makes many discouraged from the idea of universal healthcare. This fear is especially great for the middle and lower class when considering the top 400 families in the United States only paid 23% in taxes, which was less than all income levels (Leonhardt). Such an increase in taxes could create an additional burden to an already financially struggling class.
Rate of Taxes Paid By Each Social Classes
In Reality.
While this is a justifiable fear, this argument does not highlight the amount Americans already pay toward healthcare costs before taxes. If a family in the U.S. were to make $43,000, they would ultimately pay 37% “to taxes and health care premiums” compared to a same family in Finland where 23% of their income goes to “labor taxes labor taxes, which includes... universal health care” (Bruenig). Americans are often unaware of income deductions that go to supporting our healthcare system. This hidden payment fools many into thinking individual taxes for healthcare are low when a great amount is simply deducted from one’s income. Therefore, implementing a universal healthcare system in the United States is not a matter of paying higher taxes and making less money, it is a matter of accessibility and coverage for all.
Medical Debt In The United States
To many, healthcare access and treatment in the United States is associated with high costs and surrendering a human right. This is clear as “1 in 4 Americans had trouble paying a recent medical bill” (SingleCare Team), accumulating to medical debt. In fact, the “average debt for households that experience medical bankruptcy is $44,622” (SingleCare Team). This is exorbitant when knowing the average household income in the United States is around $70,000. This debt would account for more than half a year’s income excluding other expenses such as rent and groceries.
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Research has proven that “70% [of Americans] cut back spending on food, clothing, or other basic household items” (SingleCare Team) when faced with medical bills. It is apparent how detrimental medical debt is to a family as it leads to sacrificing necessities such as food, a human right people should be entitled to. One may even believe getting a yearly checkup can prevent drastic health issues that cost significantly, but a survey revealed that 65% of individuals have indicated that medical debt starts from doctor visits and diagnostic tests (SingleCare Team). People look to hospitals for help when it comes to their health, but the high costs of a simple doctor visit can put them at financial risk. It piles us and results in many Americans avoiding hospitals out of fear. Americans should not have to fear that getting medical care amounts to a sacrifice, and universal healthcare access would allow for health coverage to eradicate such fears.
"So if you're poor, you're dead"
The Correlation With Better Health Outcomes
When Universal healthcare is implemented into a country, statistics show there is a positive correlation with better health outcomes. This is visible through research on countries that have implemented a universal health care system. During the introduction of universal coverage in Thailand, research found “an estimated decrease of 6.5 infant deaths per 1000 births among the poor from 2001 to 2005” (Pearson, Mark, et al.). People who face financial inequality are at a significant disadvantage of proper medical care. Implementing universal coverage, such as Thailand did, makes it evident how a populations health is benefited as early as birth, especially in minority groups with limited healthcare. The United States has proven this claim to be true as well through government-funded health insurance programs. Although the United States does not have universal healthcare, results show “better adult and infant health outcomes have been clearly linked to the implementation and expansion” (Pearson, Mark, et al.) of Medicare and Medicaid. These programs are government-funded that provide health care access to low-income individuals. Although the U.S. has taken steps for free healthcare and tremendous benefit has come as a result, not everyone is covered under these programs. This small step demonstrates that universal healthcare to all would render advantageous in the United States.
Reflect.
The only wealthy, industrialized country that lacks a universal healthcare system is the United States. It uses the health of the population as a business concept to gain profit from out- of-pocket payments. Implementing a system of universal healthcare would offer access to all, eliminate the medical burden, and result in better medical outcomes. While critics do claim that it would be damaging to the population as it will increase taxes, the entire population would be able to access healthcare without fear, as everyone should have been entitled to from the start.
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Do you think the U.S. is in dire need of universal healthcare?
Will Americans be plagued by the taxes of universal healthcare, rather than being saved?
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Let us know your thoughts. Feel free to reflect.
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Resources
Bruenig, Matt. “Universal Health Care Might Cost You Less Than You Think.” The New
York Times, The New York Times, 29 Apr. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/29/opinion/medicare-for-all-cost.html.
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Leonhardt, David. “The Rich Really Do Pay Lower Taxes Than You.” The New York Times,
The New York Times, 6 Oct. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/06/opinion/income-tax-rate-wealthy.html.
Pearson, Mark, et al. “Universal Health Coverage and Health Outcomes - OECD.” OECD,
OECD, 22 July 2016, https://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/Universal-Health- Coverage-and-Health-Outcomes-OECD-G7-Health-Ministerial-2016.pdf.
SingleCare Team. “2021 Medical Debt Statistics.” The Checkup, SingleCare, 18 Aug. 2021,
https://www.singlecare.com/blog/medical-debt-statistics/.
Vandoorne, Saskya, and Melissa Bell. “The 'Dark Side' of Finland's Famous Free Health
Care.” CNN, Cable News Network, 15 Aug. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/15/world/finland-health-care-intl/index.html.
VinZant, N. (2021, April 28). States with the most medical debt and rising health care costs.
States with the Most Medical Debt and Rising Health Care Costs. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://quotewizard.com/news/posts/disparity-between-healthcare-costs-and-middle-class-income.