Dworkin Justice And The High Cost Of Health Analysis

In his essay titled “Justice and the High Cost of Health”, Ronald Dworkin outlines a method of allocating universal healthcare. His plan, which he calls the “prudent insurance ideal”, basically entails that medical insurance should cover what the prudent American needs in terms of healthcare (Dworkin 243). In this essay, I will argue for a better insurance plan – one that includes a way to improve the social determinants of health, which are a significant part of healthcare. Finally, I will explain why the social determinants of health are significant and respond to any objections that Dworkin might have. Dworkin begins his argument by explaining why the rescue principle is not a viable plan for healthcare in the United States. This principle …show more content…
The extra money that they pay allows the government to provide healthy facilities to those who cannot afford it themselves. Specifically, the money can be used to clean up unsanitary towns, reduce the drug activity, provide cheaper gym memberships, build healthier food markets, educate people about healthy practices, and more. Under Dworkin’s prudent insurance ideal, the average 25-year-old is unlikely to be willing to pay extra money to help out others. There is nothing in his argument to indicate that the prudent person is altruistic, so this person is assumed to be selfish in the sense that they only pay for the healthcare that they need. Although some people may be willing to pay more money to fund other people’s healthcare, we cannot assume that every 25-year-old is as selfless. As a consequence, no one would be willing to give up extra money to go towards improving the social determinants of health, so people living in poorer areas have no means of adopting a healthy life styles. Additionally, free health clinics are an extremely helpful resource for the underprivileged, but they would also be shut down without adequate