Universal Healthcare for America By Catherine McKeller English 102, Section 5232

Why the US needs universal coverage Millions of Americans are without adequate healthcare. The cost of healthcare in the US is too expensive. The current system is inefficient. The economy & society are worse off without everybody having healthcare.

How are Americans covered now? 61% private insurance 23.5% Government funded insurance 15.5% NO health insurance!! (Clemmitt, 2007)

How does US spending compare? $5,635 per person (15% GDP) 44% from Govt. Other nations: $2,307 per person (8.6% GDP) 72% from Govt. (Chua, 2006)

How does US quality of healthcare compare? More infant deaths Shorter life expectancy Fewer doctors, nurses, & hospital beds per person (Chua, 2006) Ranked 37 th in overall quality by the World Health Organization (Clemmitt, 2006)

Private insurance is too expensive for: Employees Patients Employers Healthcare Providers

High costs to employees High deductibles, premiums, and out- of-pocket payments Less coverage Increased insurance denials Fewer/smaller raises

High cost to patients Less preventative care due to cost Worsens illness Worse illness increases cost treatment Few can afford expensive treatment 2005: 46.2% of those bankrupt due to medical reasons (Chua, 2006)

High costs to employers causes: Reduced employee benefits Lower wages & fewer raises Less productivity Smaller profits Competitive disadvantage globally

High costs to providers Excess paperwork More personnel required Higher administrative costs Less time with patients

Insurance companies are inefficient High overhead Increase price to customers Less coverage Minimal pay to providers Maximize profit

Uninsured costly to society Cost $125 billion a year Pay for only 26% of services received (Clemmitt, 2006) Providers must write off services not paid for Costly to providers & increases prices for those who can pay

Uninsured costly to society (cont.) Ill and disabled unable to work and contribute Heavier load on government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid

Universal healthcare saves money Heavier stress on preventative care will keep people healthy and avoid expensive treatment!

Universal healthcare saves money Extremely low administrative costs! Less money needed to provide care!

How much can be saved? Harvard Study: $286 BILLION every year! (Himmelstein & Woolhandler, 2006) Dr. Kenneth Thorpe (economist) study: $1.1 TRILLION in ten years! (Chua, 2006)

Universal healthcare is morally right Everybody has the right to be healthy! Everybody needs access to quality healthcare! A healthy community is a happy community!

United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (article 25): “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and his family, including… medical care” (Mueller, 2006)

Sources: Angell, M. Government-funded single-payer health care would benefit America. Health. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Opposing viewpoints resource center. Thomson Gale. Glendale Community College. 4 July 2007 Chua, K. (2006, February 10). The case for universal health care. Retrieved June 17, 2007, from Chua, K. (2006, February 10). Overview of the U.S. health care system. Retrieved June 17, 2007, from Clemmitt, M. (2006, April 7). Rising health costs. CQ Researcher, vol. 16. Retrieved July 02, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online. Clemmitt, M. (2007, March 30). Universal coverage. CQ Researcher, vol. 17. Retrieved June 17, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, Harris, N. (Ed.). (2006). Does the United States need a national health insurance policy?. At Issue Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Opposing Viewpoints. Thomson Gale.

Sources Continued: Himmelstein, D. and Woolhandler, S. National health insurance could save billions of dollars. Does the United Stated need a national health insurance policy?. Ed. Nancy Harris. At Issue Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Opposing Viewpoints. Thomson Gale. Mueller, R. America should model its health care system after those of other developed nations. Does the United States need a national health insurance policy?. Ed. Nancy Harris. At Issue Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Opposing Viewpoints. Thomson Gale. Sullivan, K. A national health insurance policy would be superior to market-based plans. Does the United States need a national health insurance policy?. Ed. Nancy Harris. At Issue Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Opposing Viewpoints. Thomson Gale. Wikipedia home page. (June 2007). Publicly-funded healthcare. Retrieved June 16, 2007, from