UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE AROUND THE WORLD (BUT IN THE UNITED STATES??) Presented By: Christina Lomax

Project Aims and Overview  Three sections of book:  Discuss past attempts to universal health care by the U.S.  Analyze health care systems in five different nations Focus on six influential factors  Interpret current U.S. efforts

Past Efforts in the US: Harry Truman  Roosevelt preceded Truman  Announced support for universal health care (before his death)  President during the New Deal  Economic problems took priority  Proposed national insurance program  Rejected by the American Medical Association  Considered a “socialist” idea

Past Efforts in the US: Lyndon Johnson  1964 election led to democratic majorities in House and Senate  Worked with Wilbur Mills to create Medicare  Medicare part A  Medicare part B  Medicaid  Passed in 1965

Past Efforts in the US: Richard Nixon  1974: proposed employer-based insurance system  Not opposed by AMA or private insurance  Labor unions opposed plan  Nixon resigned before implementation

Past Efforts in the US: by Bill Clinton  Less of a priority than economy during first year  Sought to cover citizens by private HMO’s through employers  Supported by labor unions and opposed by single-payer movement  Able to implement State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

Around the World…  Countries Analyzed  Argentina  France  Italy  Japan  Singapore  Factors  Demographics  Economics  History  Infrastructure  National Character  Politics

France  Demographics:  64 million inhabitants  Life expectancy Male: 78 years Female: 84 years  National Character:  Idea of solidarity and cooperation  Politics:  President had most authority during push for universal healthcare

France con’t  History:  Major movement after WWII  L’Ordinance passed to create stronger health care system  Economics:  2009: Spend 11% of GDP on health care  Physicians paid 1/3 of U.S. counterparts  Infrastructure:  Public health system

Current Efforts in the U.S.  Major Players:  President Barack Obama  Senator (D, MT) Max Baucus  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi  Significant Debates:  Government Regulation  Expand Existing Health Programs  Public Option Plan

Government Regulation Support  More funding for providers and services  Coverage for everyone  More preventive services  healthier U.S.  lower mortality rates Opposition  Higher taxes  Over usage of health services  Ultimately lead to greater debt in health system

Expand Existing Health Programs Support  Increase Medicaid eligibility  Given choices about insurance plans  Intergovernmental financial programs Opposition  Require Medicare to pay advance directives  Rationing of health care  Increase inflation that affects middle class

Public Option Plan Support  Cost control  Increases competition between public and private market  Leads to greater innovation Opposition  Leads to single- payer, government control  Dominant form of insurance  Outcries from citizens

Special Thanks  Skip Rosoff, J.D.  Atena Asiaii  Joanne Levy and the staff of LDI

Acknowledgements  Gerard de Pouvourville  Jean de Kervasdoue

References  residents_who_brought_us_the_closest_to_u niversal_health_care_part_1 residents_who_brought_us_the_closest_to_u niversal_health_care_part_1  ealth.care.explainer/index.html ealth.care.explainer/index.html  /government_regulated_healthcare_pg 2.html?cat= /government_regulated_healthcare_pg 2.html?cat=5

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