What is universal healthcare?
Universal healthcare, also known as universal medical insurance, is a health care framework in which all people of a specific nation or zone have direct exposure to health care services. It is often structured towards delivering either medical treatments or the resources to obtain them to all people or simply those who cannot finance them on their behalf, with the ultimate aim of enhancing medical results. Universal Health (UH) is crucial in guaranteeing that all people have accessibility to necessary healthcare interventions such as alleviation, rehabilitation, therapy, advocacy, and prevention. Thus, universal care has become the primary objective of medical policies in many countries, as well as a major goal of the World Health Organization. The term “universal care” refers to the provision of medical care to all residents of a given nation (Universal health coverage, 2021).
What are some of the problems in our healthcare system that have led to increased interest in and support of universal healthcare?
One of the major challenges that the healthcare system face that led to the increased support of universal healthcare is the increased cost of treatment. Protecting individuals from the monetary repercussions of reimbursing for medical care out of their own pockets decreases the danger of individuals falling into deprivation since unpredicted diseases force them to spend their life investments, sell resources, or borrow – ruining their prospects and, in many cases, the prospects of their kids. The other challenge is poor service delivery which leads to decreased patient safety and poor health outcomes. The other challenge is that medical facilities are highly affected by medical staff shortages, essential medications and fundamental healthcare facilities.
How might a universal healthcare system impact cost of care, quality of care, and access to care in the US?
The most significant advantage of universal medical care, of course, is that it allows every lawful resident of a nation to obtain medical treatment services irrespective of their capacity to pay. Through universal healthcare, it reduces the costs for both consumers and medical care professionals. There is no rivalry amongst medical coverage firms under a universal medical insurance framework. The state, on the other hand, controls medical care expenditures. This significantly reduces the cost of medical care. Likewise, because there is no requirement to interact with various coverage providers, it minimizes operational expenses for physicians and medical care professionals (What is universal health care, 2021).
Many residents in the private medical care sector are unable to obtain basic healthcare specialists and prophylactic medication due to financial constraints. As a consequence, these residents rely on the urgent department as their major source of health care. Emergency department appointments are famously costly, and by the period a person requires emergency health service, their medical care condition has grown significantly larger and extremely costly (Universal health coverage, 2021). All individuals have accessibility to basic care and prophylactic treatment under universal health care, which often prevents potential medical crises. UHC policies guarantee that everybody has accessibility to treatments that address the leading sources of illness and mortality and that the level of those treatments is high enough to enhance the wellness of those who obtain them.
List two likely positive outcomes of a universal healthcare system.
It reduces the cost of care to all residents of the US. Negotiation and regulations, reduced administrative expenditures, and a streamlined and integrated structure all contribute to reduced medical care and medication expenses. Administrative expenses, for instance, amount to almost 8% of overall federal medical spending in the United States. The other nations vary between 1% to 3% (Benefits of universal health care, 2021). Universal medical insurance guards against large out-of-pocket expenses by extending progressively pre-paid collected savings, which can decrease or eradicate the economic danger connected with unexpected, excessive medical expenses. When consumers face reduced economic danger, households have lesser necessities to save for healthcare expenditures and can utilize their funds on other activities, increasing cash flow. Universal medical insurance also equalizes treatment, as no physicians or healthcare facilities can prioritize and favor more affluent clientele. This ensures that everybody receives an equal quality of treatment, which results in a healthy workplace and a higher life span. When an individual has access to universal health insurance from conception, he or she is more likely to live a prolonged and better lifetime, and the societal disparity is reduced.
List two likely negative outcomes/cons of a universal healthcare system.
Patients in certain nations with universal medical insurance face enormous wait periods or may await weeks to be treated at all. States may omit to fund uncommon illnesses or optional operations in order to concentrate on delivering vital and lifesaving medical treatment.
It may deter individuals from exercising caution when it comes to their wellness. When a UHC program is in place, the broader public may not manage their wellness as sensibly as they would if the actual expenses of their actions were their own concern. In such a structure, there is no economic motivation to be healthier (Gaille, 2018). This implies that individuals may arrange a consultation for any cause or fail to take charge of themselves as they must.
Share your perspective on a universal healthcare system.
The concept of universal health insurance holds that everybody in a nation must have free access to health treatments. It assures that all lawful citizens of a nation have accessibility to fundamental health treatment of high quality, irrespective of wealth, occupation, medical status, or other factors. UHC focuses on the way treatments are financed, administered, and provided, not just what treatments are provided. Thus, I would suggest that every country should make progress towards universal care to enhance quality medical outcomes for its residents.
References
Benefits of universal health care (a review). (2021). Thales – Building a future we can all trust. https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/government/health/universal-health-care
Louise Gaille. (2018, July 13). 17 universal health care pros and cons. https://vittana.org/17-universal-health-care-pros-and-cons
Universal health coverage (UHC). (2021, April 1). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/universal-health-coverage-(UHC)
What is universal health care? (2021, February 10). MintLife Blog. https://mint.intuit.com/blog/trends/what-is-universal-health-care/
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