Universal health care is provided by governments rather than by private companies.
A form of health coverage, universal health care allows every citizen to receive health services provided by the government. As of 2010, parts of South America, Canada, Western Europe and Russia offer its citizens universal healthcare, while the United States does not, according to the Insurance Specialists website. Arguments for the practice of universal health care insist that universal medical coverage will improve quality of life and relieve financial strains.
Healthcare as a Human Right
Many people argue that having access to health care is a basic human right that the government is morally obligated to provide. According to the American Medical Student Association website, the United States remains the only industrialized nation without universal health care. The reason, AMSA claims, is that unlike other countries who have recognized health care as a basic right, the U.S views it as a privilege since only those who can afford it have it. The United Nations adopted The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which states that everyone has the right to a life that ensures health and well-being by means of medical care. Although the United States signed the treaty and urged its creation, the country has failed to recognize these rights, according to The Right to Health Care website.
Improve Public Health
Universal health care will improve overall public health because the millions of uninsured will have access to health care. In the United States alone, 46.3 million people were uninsured in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2007, The United States, along with Hungary and Slovakia, had the highest infant mortality rate and ranked 23rd in life expectancy. Being one of the most industrialized nations in the world, many feel find these statistics unacceptable. The American Medical Student Association website states that the uninsured are 50% less likely than the insured to get preventive care and are likely to receive medical help only when their condition becomes severe. When they do seek medical treatment, they are excluded from certain services because they lack insurance. Universal health care will encourage these people to practice preventive medicine such as pap smears, prostate exams, mammograms, and blood pressure and cholesterol checks, thus preventing chronic disesase and ultimately improving public health.
Avoid Unnecessary Bankruptcies
With more people practicing preventive medicine because of universal health are, people avoid the costs of extended hospital stays and critical care necessary for chronic diseases. The rising costs of private health care in the United States has caused bankruptcy for millions of Americans. According to the Yes Magazine website, the United States has 1.5 million bankruptcies filled per year, with half being caused by medical bills. Insurance premiums increased 73 percent between 2000 and 2005, claims Yes Magazine, and the alterations in health care policies sometimes leave those already seeking medical treatment with higher bills than they can pay. Without universal health care, individuals who lose their jobs also lose their health care coverage, rendering them unable to pay medical bills and possibly leading to bankruptcy.
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