A Debate of Why Universal Health Care Should Be Provided in the United States for All

Universal Health Care in the United States For All

Shevon Morrison

Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry NY

 It is better to invest a small amount into preventative measures before a problem gets big enough and the financial burden is extreme. Health care should be available to all, and not segregate an individual because of pre-existing conditions, socio-class or un-affordable premiums. Universal Health-Care (UHC) shouldn't sectionalize illnesses into what is covered and what is not. UHC for all is beneficial because it will offer preventative care which will save money in the long run. It will strengthen America's traditional moral values within individuals, and it will eliminate burdensome rules and make it more affordable and reduce the amount of people being denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions, or severity of illness.  

The following is a brief history of health care reforms to aide in the debate for UHC. In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson enacted legislation that introduced Medicare and Medicaid, medical expense coverage for seniors over 65, and the poor class. In 1985, The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to give some employees the ability to continue health insurance coverage after leaving employment. In 1997, The State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, was established by the federal government to provide health insurance to children in families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line. And in 2010, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was enacted by President Barack Obama, designed to eliminate "some of the worst practices of the insurance companies" — pre-condition screening and premium loadings (Congress, 2009)

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"(Benjamin Franklin). It also means that not just financial costs are eliminated, the health of individuals don't get out of hand....