Universal Healthcare

Term Paper # 99475

Medical and Health
Political Science > Social Security and Welfare
Political Science > U.S.

This paper explores the economics of the proposed single-payer healthcare system in the United States.

1,510 words () | 8 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the dramatically increasing cost of health care in the US that has led to the consideration of the single-payer healthcare system. The paper presents the case of two individuals; Sally, a "high-income, healthy" person and Sue, a "low-income, unhealthy" person and demonstrates their health care costs with and without a single-payer tax-funded system. The paper concludes that while in theory the individual relief to those who are not high-income earners can be dramatic, universal healthcare still may not be as ideal as the government makes it out to be.

From the Paper:

"The economics of health care is a complex matter that has been debated by individuals, corporate America and government officials alike. People are outraged over the dramatically increasing cost of health care, upwardly spiraling health insurance premium rates and growing limitations on insurance coverage through higher deductibles and reduced coverage. In lieu of this situation and in view of single-payer healthcare systems offered in other nations such as Canada and Great Britain, the United States is considering a system that would increase taxes to those considered in a high-income bracket. Funding from taxes would then be utilized by the federal government to provide health care to all Americans without regard to consumers' ability to pay and/or whether or not they have ever paid taxes."

Sample of Sources Used:

Dorschner, John. "Abbott Laboratories accused of inflating drug prices." Miami Herald. May 19, 2006. September 25, 2006. <http://www.highbeam.com/docs/1G1:145971292>.
Huffman, Todd. "Halting the Collapse of Health Care." The Register-Guard. (July 10, 2005). September 25, 2006 <http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1:134032353>.
Langer, Gary. "Health Care Pains: Growing Health Care Concerns Fuel Cautious Support." ABC News. (October 20, 2003). September 25, 2006 <http://abcnews.go.com/living/US/ healthcare031020_poll.html>.
"Majority of U.S. health Leaders Reject Fully Tax-payer-funded Universal Healthcare System." Healthcare Financial Management. (2006). September 25, 2006 <http://highbeam.com/doc/1G1:142206978>.
Mintz, Morton. "Single-payer: Good for Business." The Nation. (2004). September 25, 2006 <http://www.highbeam.com/ doc/1G1:125911713>.