U.S Healthcare Debate
U.S Healthcare Debate
U.S Healthcare Debate
The cost of healthcare in the United States has been rising constantly over the years. The unfortunate thing however, is that the quality of healthcare has not necessarily improved in proportion with the high costs. The current economic recession has also made it more difficult for the low income earners to afford healthcare. Informed by these trends, president Obama sought to revolutionalize the healthcare system with the introduction of a system where the government pays for the health care for all. It is agreeable that the healthcare system as it is currently is in great need of reforms. However, the kind of reforms necessary has been subject of great debate. There are many who think that it is unreasonable to require the tax payers to pay for the bills for those who cannot pay for themselves. Others feel that it is only fair to consider the plight of the poor in the realization of healthcare for all. The healthcare is currently an option for the rich. Worth noting is the fact that the health care industry is currently the largest; with over two and a half trillion dollars spent annually. This paper will critically look at whether the government should assume comprehensive healthcare responsibility while assessing some of the arguments for and against the proposal from an ethical point of view. It will also offer a personal analysis of the situation and possible measures.
Details of the Plan
According to the president, the proposed bill has a threefold effect. It seeks to create a country where the healthcare needs of everyone are taken care of. He says that this bill aims to better the situation for all. Those who already have access to health insurance will enjoy coverage, with no discrimination on the basis of pre-existing conditions (Obama, 2009). It eliminates gender and age based premium policies, eliminates denial of coverage when it is most needed, reduces expenses and thus eliminates possibilities of bankruptcy with sickness, ensure that the elderly are better covered, as well as controlling the cost of preventive care (Organizing for America, 2009).
This plan seeks to provide to those Americans who have no insurance, tax credits to both individuals and micro businesses in order to help them obtain coverage. It creates a Public Health Insurance which insures the uninsured, and also takes care of persons with pre-existing medical conditions (Organizing for America, 2009).
The president promises that this will be done without adding any deficit. Large employers will pay for their employee's coverage, while the capable individuals will have to pay for their own insurance (Organizing for America, 2009). It also seeks to eliminate malpractice in the medical profession through projects that ensure patient centered approach in treatment. Doctors can rejoice, for this proposal seeks to offer incentives to doctors and other medical practitioners, while creating commission for doctors and other experts in the field with the aim of tackling issues in the healthcare (Organizing for America, 2009).
The Financial Implications
According to the 2010 Health and Human Services Department Budget Outline, the government hopes to spend over seventy eight billion dollars to fund this program. It is further expected that in the next ten years, the government needs to create a reserve of over six hundred and thirty billion dollars in the next ten years in order to sustain this program (Salmon, 2009). As expected, there are several people in favor and several against this program.
Arguments against the Plan
Offering incentives to the hospitals and health practitioners- every business expert will tell you that one of the best ways to improve performance is by offering incentives. However, when the government proposes such measure, it has serious implications on the tax payer's pocket. Of course everyone wants better functioning hospitals, and quick service, but at the expense of the poor? You bet not. Call it what you may, but incentives always cost money; and at this tough time, who is going to pay for it? The low income earning individual will have to do with less money in order to ensure that the doctors are motivated to do the job that they chose to do in life. What one wonders is who is going to give incentives to the rest of American workers who are equally relevant in the growth of the economy. If we consider the number of doctors and all other specialists, and all health facilities in the United States, we realize that for this plan to be realized, several billions of dollars will have to be parted with, by both poor and rich Americans. Today, over eighty percent of the people have access to some health insurance. Only twenty percent is lacking. This plan is not likely to work, and if it is not financially viable, then it is not practically possible. What is even more ridiculous is the fact that a poor person will have to suffer in order to make the hospitals work. Another problem with this system is that one cannot choose who to help with that money. There is a certain comfort that comes with being in control of the use of one's finances. Why not channel this tax into projects that create employment to our young people who are continually becoming jobless? If one trillion dollars is invested in job creation, there is no doubt that the twenty percent who cannot afford insurance will. If there are individuals that are not willing to work, the government should find ways of dealing with them, rather than asking the rest of the Americans to pay their bills.
Arguments for the Plan
Those in favor of the plan argue that despite the fact that it is costly to sustain this plan, it has both short term and long term benefits. The current system has witnessed a twofold rise in health costs. If there is an alternative that seeks to eliminate risks such as bankruptcy and all manners of discriminations due to lack of money, it must be a good idea. Of course the rich will be taxed more, but there is nothing really wrong with that. At the moment, high health costs have made firms to implement drastic measures, ranging from benefits cut to reduced number of employees to put up with the huge demands by their employee's insurance companies. Surely government subsidies could not have come at a better time. Offering incentives to the hospitals and staff will also ensure that doctors put their best in patient care and management. This will reduce unnecessary suffering and possibly unnecessary deaths. No amount of money can pay for a lost life. The argument is that in both Switzerland and Canada, health care is funded by the government and has been successful so far. More is spent, at least forty percent more, on healthcare in the US, will less effective heath services. The argument is that although so much will be invested, much more will come both from the healthcare industry and the other industries. Firms will employ more people due to reduced costs in health care, as well as higher salaries.
Healthcare led by Market Forces
Arguments in Favor
According to those in favor of the current system, where the market forces drive the costs of healthcare, there is nothing greater than having the freedom to choose the kind of service to go for. The argument is that the proposal by the president necessarily removes the possibility for the Americans to choose which hospital to attend, as well as which doctor treats them. The feeling is that this is against their basic right (Atlas, 2009). The insurance companies, who fall in this bracket, argue that this move is likely to drive them out of business. A majority of Republicans share the same sentiments. Some have argued that although the president promises that this bill will require insurance companies to cover all because the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act insulates companies from prosecution for decisions relating to health benefit (Kristof, 2009).
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