Column: The Need For Universal Health Care

This story was written by Ben Rowley, Daily Mississippian

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates the number of Americans without health insurance has reached 47 million. That means that 15.8 percent of the residents of the self-proclaimed "best" country in the world do not have access to adequate health care.

It is true that America is home to some of the world's best doctors and hospitals; however, many Americans receive inadequate care or no care at all. The uninsured are forced to turn to emergency rooms for treatment for ailments routinely treated by a simple visit to the doctor's office. This results in long waits for patients with more severe injuries and higher costs for the insured as hospitals attempt to recover the cost of treating those unable to pay.

Health care is going to be a pivotal issue in the coming presidential election. The U.S. health care system is broken. Both Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barrack Obama acknowledge serious problems, including the use of "gate keepers" and the difficulties faced by those with pre-existing conditions in getting health coverage.

Even as the health care debate in the U.S. takes center stage in the public's eye, both candidates tiptoe around the topic of reform. McCain risks alienating the Republican base by promising universal coverage, and Obama must communicate his plans for universal health care without sounding like a "socialist".

Though a universal health care is desired by many, it remains a touchy subject. Typically, talk of universal plans stirs images of socialized medicine like that found in England. And while it is true there are big problems with the health service in the United Kingdom, there are many universal health care systems that offer much better care than the American system and at a much lower cost.

The American health care system is said to be market-based. This means (whether admitted or not) health care decisions are often influenced more by the financial outcome for the provider and insurance company than the health of the patient.

This profit seeking is ruining the health of far too many Americans. In the quest for increased profits, insurers and hospitals have resorted to practices that lead one to question whether any sense of ethics remains in corporate America.

Countries all over the world have taken aggressive steps to provide for the health of all of their citizens. In fact, several notable democracies have implemented universal health care. Care is widely accessible to everyone under these programs. Life expectancies are higher and infant mortality rates are lower in these countries than in the U.S. All of these things are achieved at a much lower cost than in America.

Opponents of universal care can argue that "socialized," "single-payer" systems -- both terms are often misused -- are inefficient and offer worse care than the American system. However, medical indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality rates, wait times and cost do not lie. If people are living longer in countries like Japan, France, England, Germany, Cuba (yes, Cuba) and Taiwan, then maybe they are doing something better than us: providing very good health care to everyone.

Spending on health care in the United Statesequals more than 15 percent of GDP. The GDP of the United State is nearly four times larger than that of Japan, the second-largest economy. Japan, however, spends only 8 percent of its GDP on health care, but provides a high level of care to everyone.

The U.S. spends about $6,500 on health care per capita, while France spends only about $3,500. However, France has a higher life expectancy and lower infant mortality rate than the United States.

There are a few basic steps that must be taken to ensure that all Americns have access to the best health care in the world.

First, insurance companies should be prohibited from denying anyone coverage.

Second, everyone must purchase insurance and subsidies should be provided for the poor.

Third, insurance companies must become nonprofit.

Fourth, the price paid for medical procedures, doctor visits and medicine should all be negotiated in advance and should be standardized throughout the country.

While many may call these steps "socialist," "big government," "liberal" or "un-American," they are vital if the U.S. is to remain a healthy nation. As it stands now, America is still "the land of the free and the home of the brave," but we are also home to the uninsured, underinsured, sick, obese and hopeless. Small-market reforms in health care in this country could improve our quality of life and secure our place as the "best" country for a long time to come.