Week 4 Term Paper_ Outline Anh Tran (1)
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Week 4 Term Paper Outline: Healthcare for All
Anh Tran
West Coast University
PHIL 434: Medical Ethics and Issues
Melanie Lavelle
September 17th, 2023
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Healthcare is a fundamental aspect of many societies of the world, and the approach to it
varies widely in each country. One of the most significant and enduring debates in the United
States is the implementation of Universal Health Care. Universal Health Care, often referred to
Medicare for All, is a system where healthcare is guaranteed for every citizen, regardless of their
financial situation or employment status (Zieff et al., 2020). Today, I’ll be discussing the
implementations of Universal Health Care, how it benefits the population as a whole, as well as
why it shouldn’t be implemented, and lastly, my personal opinion on this controversial issue.
The idea of Universal Health Care is based on the idea that everyone should have access
to healthcare. All residents would have access to necessary medical care under such a system
without the need for private insurance or out-of-pocket expenses. Although Universal Health
Care systems differ from nation to nation, they nonetheless usually seek to provide full
healthcare coverage. For example, the United Kingdom’s is a traditional version of Universal
Health Care with minimal options for privatized care, while Germany offers a more spread
healthcare system, which provides a tier for each socio-economic status (Zieff et al., 2020). In
regards to the US, healthcare can be done privately, or publicly. Citizens can acquire private
healthcare from companies such as Kaiser, or Blue cross, while individuals who can qualify for
public government- subsidized health insurances such as Medicaid, or Medicare (Zieff, et al.,
2020). Funding for Universal Health Care will often come from taxes or social insurance
contributions, ensuring that healthcare services are available to everyone, regardless of their
financial means.
The adoption of Universal Health Care has been the focus of controversial public policy
discussions in the US for decades. Politicians and policymakers have put out a number of
schemes to overhaul, replace, or renew the healthcare system, each having pros and cons of their
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own. With the most recent policy, The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare,
was a significant step toward increasing access to healthcare in the United States. However, it did
not establish a true Universal Health Care system and has faced political criticism (Kaiser Family
Foundation, 2022). Furthermore, The cost of healthcare and how it is financed remains a central
point of topic in policy debates. Critics argue that implementing Universal Health Care would
result in higher taxes and potentially undermine the quality of care (Myers, 2022).
There are several advantages to Universal Health Care, which is why many would
advocate for such a feature as it does provide many compelling arguments. Because the United
States already has an official healthcare system, they can expand their net to widen its reach like
Germany (ProCon.org, 2023). By reaching a larger target audience, it can hopefully envelope the
nation’s community to have healthcare, each according to their own socioeconomic status.
Another reason would be “to address the epidemic level of non-communicable chronic diseases
such as cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, and obesity, all of which strain the national
economy” (Zieff et al., 2020). Many of which are struck with chronic diseases are associated
with low socioeconomic status patients, which would overall, lead to a decrease in health
performance and life expectancy. Lastly, it is also recognized by WHO, that Universal Health
Care is a fundamental human right and ensures that everyone receives a betterment of quality of
life (World Health Organization: WHO, 2023). Morally, it is justified that healthcare is a right for
anyone that exists, regardless of citizenship or not.
However, opponents of Universal Health Care also present valid arguments against its
implementation. Many opposing viewpoints would argue that Universal Health Care can raise
the financial burdens and increase wait times further delaying medical help, as well as its
feasibility in the United States. For example, creating a Universal Health Care for such a
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diversified nation would be “organizationally or financially” unfeasible, as compared to other
nations (Zieff et al., 2020). This in particular, is true since the United States is home to and
houses many religions and cultures that have different aspects and restrictions. Another reason
not to implement Universal Health Care, is the additional costs it would amount to, for the
government, and in turn, taxpayers. “Medicare-for-all… would cost an estimated $30 to $40
trillion over ten years. The cost would be the largest single increase to the federal budget ever”
(ProCon.org, 2023). Lastly, the wait times for medical help would increase, further delaying
medical help to those that need it. “In 2017 Canadians were on waiting lists for an estimated
1,040,791 procedures, and the median wait time for arthroplastic surgery was 20–52 weeks”
(Zieff et al., 2020).
After considering the technical aspects, public policy debates, and pro and con arguments
surrounding Universal Health Care, it is evident that this topic is complex and multifaceted.
However, I remain steadfast in my opinion that Universal Health Care Should still be
implemented since I believe that healthcare is a fundamental right to every individual in the US.
The nation itself should take steps to ensure that every citizen has access to affordable and
comprehensive healthcare services. Although the concerns about cost and individual choice are
valid, the benefits of Universal Health Care, such as improved access and healthcare for all,
outweigh these possible concerns. Another evident reason as to why Universal Health Care
should be implemented is COVID-19 as it highlighted the importance of a robust healthcare
system that is accessible to all. In conclusion, I believe that implementing some form of
Universal Health Care in the United States is not only necessary, but also morally imperative.
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References
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022, October 27). Explaining health care reform: Questions about
health insurance subsidies | KFF. KFF. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from
https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/explaining-health-care-reform-questions-ab
out-health-insurance-subsidies/
ProCon.org. (2023, March 16). Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons. Right to Health Care.
https://healthcare.procon.org/
World Health Organization: WHO. (2023). Universal health coverage (UHC). www.who.int.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/universal-health-coverage-(uhc)
Zieff, G., Kerr, Z. Y., Moore, J. B., & Stoner, L. (2020). Universal Healthcare in the United
States of America: A Healthy Debate. Medicina-lithuania, 56(11), 580.
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina56110580