Introduction
Universal healthcare is a significant phenomenon that comes in various forms. The fundamental idea behind this type of care provision is that most taxpayer money can be utilized to ensure that every given citizen can benefit from high-quality services. Consequently, universal healthcare can be expected to eliminate scenarios where citizens are denied coverage. There are no situations where someone’s ability to pay might interfere with the provision of care. The right to receive health care services aligns with the universal health care framework because it places the burden of financial expenditures on the government. The quality of care provided under these guidelines will depend on how effectively taxpayers support the new strategy. The current paper examines the topic of universal healthcare. It explains how the US could adopt approaches used in other countries to reduce the number of obstacles that tend to affect local healthcare provision facilities.
The Cost of Universal Health Care
The primary element to consider when pondering the switch to a universal healthcare model is the cost of services provided to citizens. For example, Jamison et al. claim that the existence of a group of health care businesses would significantly reduce the cost of care provision while helping more patients find their doctors (1111). This hypothesis can be explained by the fact that a conglomerate can be significantly more successful than a solitary market player in terms of making a profit and cutting costs. Therefore, universal healthcare can be the right choice for US-based care providers seeking new strategies to streamline their initiatives. The current system does not offer cost-cutting policies because dividends are still considered more valuable than care payments. Hence, the government does not see the bigger picture because it does not adopt a universal approach that would make all healthcare sectors transparent and visible (Jamison et al. 2012). With this information in mind, it is safe to say that the cost of universal health care can be much more appealing to both providers and patients.
Universal Health Care in European Countries
Another significant benefit of universal healthcare is that it can be implemented regardless of the country in which it is launched. In his research, Montagu dwelled on how all EU countries had access to the fundamental right to healthcare and did not have to worry about not having enough money to cover the expenses. It demonstrates how patients are prioritized over profits in numerous European countries, despite having the same level of awareness as in the US. Hence, it can be claimed that universal healthcare is an opportunity to remove the barriers raised with the advent of a healthcare system where taxpaying activities did not benefit citizens. The roadmap utilized by EU members suggests that a person’s country of origin and residence do not influence their right to high-quality care services.
This top-tier recognition of sustainability and the need to invest in local medicine created an interesting premise for EU countries. Healthcare became more affordable and contributed to an environment where anyone could cooperate and exert joint efforts to help the healthcare industry move forward. This is also a way to bridge the gap between providing holistic care and reducing the stigma experienced by patients who cannot pay for health care services (Montagu). National health care is not connected to private providers in any way, which gives both public and private organizations and institutions the right to treat citizens. On a long-term scale, the idea is that universal health care should redefine the concept of ownership models and appeal to the public. European health care is significantly more efficient in terms of social and financial costs.
Key Obstacles to Universal Health Care in the US
In the article by Crowley et al., three crucial obstacles are mentioned. The lack of transparency across the US healthcare system could hinder the deployment of universal healthcare. This means that the rate of occurrence of fraud and shadowy schemes is too high to be considered a norm (Crowley et al. 14). Insurance providers and policymakers often dispute the price of premiums, while leaving consumers responsible for paying the full price individually.
Another significant challenge is that there is almost no real opportunity to find a skilled, versatile doctor focused on positive patient outcomes before personal income. For patients, it is a crucial problem because they have no chance to access any background information on specific doctors and decide whether they want to schedule an appointment with them (Crowley et al. 16). With the most significant source of reliance being online reviews and word of mouth, it is rather challenging to gain access to the right doctors at the right time in the absence of universal health care.
Nevertheless, the biggest problem that has not been resolved yet is the nonexistence of proper insurance coverage. Health hardships experienced by American citizens have been hinting at the need to alter the current approach to care provision for a long time, especially given the incredibly high cost of service (Crowley et al. 26). With the advent of universal health care, the US government could focus less on uninsured individuals and pave the way for preventive, regular screenings. Many treatable conditions would be discovered and cured earlier in an environment where taxpayers and care providers work together and access mutual benefits.
Conclusion
Based on the information presented above, it can be claimed that US-based health care could be improved significantly with the implementation of the universal health framework. It is unusual to see a heavily developed country not benefiting from strategies intended to improve citizens’ lives and have the government accountable for the quality of services. Health coverage would become a strong game-changer to improve the sustainability rate across the healthcare sector. Many Americans overlook health care provision opportunities because they believe they will not be able to afford them in the first place. Consistent with the experiences of European countries, the US government should not be afraid to implement universal coverage, at least as a pilot project. It is an ethical obligation that the government must pursue since the greater good has to be achieved. Hence, deploying universal health care to establish affordable health care practices is vital.
Works Cited
Crowley, Ryan, et al. “Envisioning a Better US Health Care System for All: Coverage and Cost of Care.” Annals of Internal Medicine, vol. 172, no. 2, 2020, pp. 7-32.
Jamison, Dean T., et al. “Universal Health Coverage and Intersectoral Action for Health: Key Messages from Disease Control Priorities.” The Lancet, vol. 391, no. 10125, 2018, pp. 1108-1120.
Lal, Arush, et al. “Fragmented Health Systems in COVID-19: Rectifying the Misalignment between Global Health Security and Universal Health Coverage.” The Lancet, vol. 397, no. 10268, 2021, pp. 61-67.
Montagu, Dominic. “The Provision of Private Healthcare Services in European Countries: Recent Data and Lessons for Universal Health Coverage in Other Settings.” Frontiers in Public Health, vol. 9, 2021, 636750.
