Universal Health Care

Maria Felipe

In the United States achieving universal health care is a mission for the government.
Unlike other countries in the nation, the United States does not provide universal health care to
all its citizens. It has been a highly debated topic especially since the Unites States is one of the
dominant countries and yet not everyone has coverage to health insurance. In my opinion,
everyone should have health insurance to reach Universal health care. It would benefit the people
in the middle and low social status.
In 2010, President Obama designed a bill that was going to require all citizens to have
health insurance known as the Affordable Care Act (Davis, 2014). Implementing this act would
include that the cost of health care would decrease and medical services would be affordable to
everyone. Being uninsured has been a problem for many people. Recently, the number of adults
who were underinsured climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from 16 million in 2003 to
30 million in 2012, with universal health insurance everyone would have access to medical
services (Health Care Statistics, n.d). If everyone had insurance the United States health care
system would cost $5 billion less than the $41 billion the Congressional Budget Office and
Joint Committee projected expected (Millman, 2014). Which would be because the premiums
would be inexpensive. With the premiums being low, many families in the middle and low class
would be able to afford health insurance, specifically Medicaid. Also, senior citizens would have
access to better medical services and home health care with Medicare.
Even though Universal health care can be beneficial for many people, there are still some
disadvantages to consider. Such as an increase in taxes and a low quality care in the United
States. To provide insurance for everyone enrolled would mean to raise taxes. This would affect
families with a high income compared to those with an average income. The health care system

would be a single payer system, meaning that doctor payments would be low. The medical
system would see a reduction in the supply of active physicians, thereby impairing access health
care for all patients, and a decrease in their income (Book, 2009). With physicians income
already low it would lead to low quality care. Physicians and even nurses would be very busy in
trying to help everyone with their medical problem and have little to no time to get to know and
interact with their patients. The relationship between the patient and doctor wouldnt be the
same.
In conclusion, I do believe that everyone should have access to health insurance. Why
you may ask? Everyone should be able to go to a primary care provider without having to worry
about the cost because they arent insured. Families of all social status have a right to medical
care and should not be neglected due to lack of insurance. Its a right every citizen should have
to protect and check up on their health.

Bibliography
1. Davis, E. (2014, January 1). The Affordable Care Act. About. Retrieved September 6,
2014, from http://healthinsurance.about.com/od/adefinitions/g/The-Affordable-CareAct.htm
2. Millman, J. (2014, April 14). Lower premiums (yes, really) drive down Obamacares
expected costs, CBO says.Washington Post. Retrieved September 8, 2014, from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/04/14/lower-premiums-yesreally-drive-down-obamacares-expected-costs-cbo-says/
3. Health Care Statistics. (n.d.). Health Care Problems RSS. Retrieved September 7, 2014,
from http://www.healthcareproblems.org/health-care-statistics.htm
4. Levi, M. (2009, April 6). Poll: Majority Would Pay Higher Taxes For Universal Health Care.
Retrieved September 7, 2014, from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-majority-would-payhigher-taxes-for-universal-health-care/

5. Book, R. (2009, April 3). Single Payer: Why Government-Run Health Care Will Harm Both
Patients and Doctors. Retrieved September 7, 2014, from
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2009/04/single-payer-why-government-run-healthcare-will-harm-both-patients-and-doctors

6.