Universal health care is a form of government-mandated insurance in which every resident of a particular area is provided with some form of health care coverage. In the United States, some form of universal health care has already been implemented in certain states as of 2010, such as Massachusetts. While nationwide implementation would have some advantages, it would also have some drawbacks.
Cost
A universal health care program in the United States could take several forms. The program might either reimburse individuals for health care expenses, such as it currently does with the Medicaid or Medicare programs, or it might subsidize the purchase of health insurance. In either case, the expense would likely be quite large and might lead to the raising of taxes or the cutting of other services.
Lack of Patient Choice
Under the current health care system, patients are free to purchase policies from a number of different insurers. However, under a universal health care system, individuals might face a limited number of choices. According to BalancedPolitics.org, this may lead to both fewer options in the kind of coverage an individual can receive and in the doctor he sees.
May Lead To Additional Restrictions
Under certain kinds of universal health care, the government may implement restrictions on certain medical procedures as a cost-cutting move. For example, if the government deemed a certain procedure inefficient, it might refuse to cover it. This could lead to fewer choices for patients in the kind of treatment they receive.
Difficult To Amend
According to BalancedPolitics.org, if universal health care were to be implemented, it could be very difficult to take away if the program became underfunded or didn't work. This is because universal health care, like Social Security and other government-provided forms of health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid, are entitlement programs, which, once implemented, become popular among voters, regardless of their costs to the government.
Potential Reduction in Quality of Care
According to Dr. John O'Shea, writing in "My Family Doctor" magazine, universal health care could lead to a reduction in the quality of care. This is because many universal health care programs are insufficiently funded. This means that many patients are forced to wait long periods of time for services to be provided. This lack of access to services is sometimes called "rationing by queue."
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