Universal Health Care

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 Physician s, Physical Therapy , Occupational Therapy , Mammography screenings, Immunization services, treatment of Sexually Transmitted Disease s, HIV Test ing, Optometry and Optician ry services, Alcohol and Drug Abuse treatment and rehabilitation services, Mental Health services, Gambling Addiction services, Dentistry services, Prescription Drug s, medical supplies and appliances, Podiatry services, Chiropractic services, Emergency Medical Transportation , Nursing Home care, Home Care servicesSaskatchewan Health. "Coverage". .

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 Physicians for a National Health Program "International Health Systems". .

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 departmentPhysicians for a National Health Program "What is Single Payer?". . 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

, Spain , Sweden , Taiwan , and The United Kingdom are among many countries that have various types of universal health care systems .

SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

Health care is a right.Center for Economic and Social Rights. "The Right to Health in the United States of America: What Does it Mean?" October 29, 2004.National Health Care for the Homeless Council. "Human Rights, Homelessness and Health Care".

SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

Health care is a right.Center for Economic and Social Rights. "The Right to Health in the United States of America: What Does it Mean?" October 29, 2004.National Health Care for the Homeless Council. "Human Rights, Homelessness and Health Care".

Provides coverage to all citizens.Messerli, Joe. "Should the Government Provide Free Universal Health Care for All Americans?" BalancedPolitics.org. March 1, 2006.

Health care increasingly unaffordable for businesses and individuals.

People suffering from chronic, potentially fatal illness are not discouraged from seeking medical care as they are under a privatized system.Craig, Kristopher D. "Why I'm Doing This" Citizens for Universal Health Care: ''CraigBlog''. February 13th, 2006.

Simply having more wealth and privilege should not make someone more deserving of quality medical care in the eyes of an enlightened society.

Reduces wastefulness and inefficiencies in the delivery of health care.

A centralized national database makes diagnosis and treatment easier for doctors.

Low-income parents have to choose between putting food on the table or taking their sick child to the doctor under a privatized system.

Medical professionals can concentrate on treating patients rather than on administrative duties.

Encourages patients to seek preventive care enabling problems to be detected and treated earlier.

Private insurance companies are more concerned with maximizing profit than they are with providing adequate, honest coverage to the insured.

OPPOSITION TO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

Health care is not a right.Goodman, John. "Five Myths of Socialized Medicine." Cato Institute: ''Cato's Letter''. Winter, 2005.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." )

Increased waiting times in some cases.

Unequal access and health disparities still exist in some universal health care systems.

Government agencies may be less efficient due to bureaucracy.

Must be funded with higher taxes and/or spending cuts in other areas.

Profit motives, competition, and individual ingenuity lead to greater cost control and effectiveness.

Uninsured citizens can sometimes still receive health and emergency care from alternative sources such as nonprofits and government-run hospitals.

Healthy people who take care of themselves have to pay for the burden of those who smoke, are obese, etc.

Causes loss of insurance industry jobs and other business closures in the private sector.

REFERENCES

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Universal Health Care