Health Care is a Right for All Americans
Since the late 1800’s there has been a campaign in the United States for some form of universal health care for all US citizens. In the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s most developed countries have instituted some form of social or national insurance. In Europe, countries began their health care programs by a “compulsory sickness insurance” (Germany 1883), other countries such as Austria, Hungary, Norway, Britain, Russia, and the Netherlands instituted similar programs from then until 1912. Europe began these programs to protect workers against loss of wages due to sickness, not for the purposes of paying for medical care. During this period in the United States, however, no action was taken to provide …show more content…
In 2010, President Obama signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This act represents the most significant change to the U.S. healthcare system since the passing of Medicare and Medicaid. This act was put into place to better the quality and affordability of health insurance, lower the amount of uninsured Americans, expand existing insurance, and reduce the cost of healthcare to Americans and the government. This act was a step in the direction of universal health care. More than 17 million Americans were added to health care roles, states expanded their Medicaid programs, children up to the age of 26 were allowed to remain on their parent’s health plans, lifetime coverage limits and pre-existing conditions were eliminated. Many people believe that countries with universal health coverage spend more money on health care. With the exception of Switzerland, the U.S. spends significantly more per capita than any other country. At this time, publically funded health care in the U.S. is: Veterans Administration, Indian Health Services, Medicare (seniors and the disabled), and Medicaid (state and federally …show more content…
Cuba has 11 million people, and while under a 50 year economic embargo, began a comprehensive Universal Health Care System, with focus was placed on preventive care, and primary care and making sure each community had physicians, nurses, and home care workers. The Cuban government invested in medical education, and now have three times more physicians per capital than the United States. They now has the lowest infant and child mortality rates in the world, and a longer life expectancy than anywhere in the Americas. Cuba is the first nation in the world (according to the WHO) to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV and
Since the late 1800’s there has been a campaign in the United States for some form of universal health care for all US citizens. In the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s most developed countries have instituted some form of social or national insurance. In Europe, countries began their health care programs by a “compulsory sickness insurance” (Germany 1883), other countries such as Austria, Hungary, Norway, Britain, Russia, and the Netherlands instituted similar programs from then until 1912. Europe began these programs to protect workers against loss of wages due to sickness, not for the purposes of paying for medical care. During this period in the United States, however, no action was taken to provide …show more content…
In 2010, President Obama signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This act represents the most significant change to the U.S. healthcare system since the passing of Medicare and Medicaid. This act was put into place to better the quality and affordability of health insurance, lower the amount of uninsured Americans, expand existing insurance, and reduce the cost of healthcare to Americans and the government. This act was a step in the direction of universal health care. More than 17 million Americans were added to health care roles, states expanded their Medicaid programs, children up to the age of 26 were allowed to remain on their parent’s health plans, lifetime coverage limits and pre-existing conditions were eliminated. Many people believe that countries with universal health coverage spend more money on health care. With the exception of Switzerland, the U.S. spends significantly more per capita than any other country. At this time, publically funded health care in the U.S. is: Veterans Administration, Indian Health Services, Medicare (seniors and the disabled), and Medicaid (state and federally …show more content…
Cuba has 11 million people, and while under a 50 year economic embargo, began a comprehensive Universal Health Care System, with focus was placed on preventive care, and primary care and making sure each community had physicians, nurses, and home care workers. The Cuban government invested in medical education, and now have three times more physicians per capital than the United States. They now has the lowest infant and child mortality rates in the world, and a longer life expectancy than anywhere in the Americas. Cuba is the first nation in the world (according to the WHO) to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV and