Question
Health Care > Universal Healthcare > Mandatory Health Insurance
Propose a universal healthcare plan that covers at least 32 million out of the 47 million uninsured U.S. residents
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Background
The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not provide universal health care.
Some candidates favor creating tax credits to help U.S. residents purchase healthcare insurance. The amount of this tax credit would be on sliding scale, depending on the taxpayer's revenue.
The United States is alone among developed nations with the absence of a universal healthcare system.
Just under 60% of Americans receive health insurance through an employer, although this number is declining and the employee's expected contribution to these plans varies widely and is increasing as costs escalate. A significant and growing number of people cannot obtain health insurance through their employer or are unable to afford individual coverage. Currently, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 16% of the U.S. population, or 47 million people, are uninsured.
Healthcare in the U.S. does, however, have significant publicly funded components. Medicare covers the elderly and disabled with a historical work record, Medicaid is available for the poor, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program covers children of low-income families. The Veterans Health Administration directly provides health care to U.S. military veterans through a nationwide network of government hospitals. Eligibility is determined by Priority Groups. Retirees and those with service-connected injuries are within the higher priority groups, while non-injured veterans may become eligible based on financial need (reference eligibility Priority Groups). Current servicemen and women are provided care at military facilities while on active duty. Reservists also have access to care while on active duty. Family members of full-time active duty personnel are covered under CHAMPUS (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services). Together, these tax-financed programs cover about 27% of the population and make the government the largest health insurer in the nation. In 2001, only the governments of Iceland and Norway spent more per capita on healthcare. This care is generally provided by privately owned hospitals or physicians in private practice, but public hospitals are common in older cities.
see more on Wikipedia
The government covers a little over one-quarter of the population through healthcare programs for the elderly (Medicare), disabled (Social Security), military service families and veterans (Tricare and VHA), children (SCHIP), and the poor (Medicare). Federal law ensures public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay. However, this unfunded mandate has contributed to a health care safety net that some analyses say is increasingly strained. Certain types of medical spending and particularly health insurance benefit from significant tax subsidies; in particular, employer-sponsored health insurance is a non-taxable benefit.
see more on Wikipedia
Some candidates favor creating tax credits to help U.S. residents purchase healthcare insurance. The amount of this tax credit would be on sliding scale, depending on the taxpayer's revenue.
The United States is alone among developed nations with the absence of a universal healthcare system.
Just under 60% of Americans receive health insurance through an employer, although this number is declining and the employee's expected contribution to these plans varies widely and is increasing as costs escalate. A significant and growing number of people cannot obtain health insurance through their employer or are unable to afford individual coverage. Currently, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 16% of the U.S. population, or 47 million people, are uninsured.
Healthcare in the U.S. does, however, have significant publicly funded components. Medicare covers the elderly and disabled with a historical work record, Medicaid is available for the poor, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program covers children of low-income families. The Veterans Health Administration directly provides health care to U.S. military veterans through a nationwide network of government hospitals. Eligibility is determined by Priority Groups. Retirees and those with service-connected injuries are within the higher priority groups, while non-injured veterans may become eligible based on financial need (reference eligibility Priority Groups). Current servicemen and women are provided care at military facilities while on active duty. Reservists also have access to care while on active duty. Family members of full-time active duty personnel are covered under CHAMPUS (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services). Together, these tax-financed programs cover about 27% of the population and make the government the largest health insurer in the nation. In 2001, only the governments of Iceland and Norway spent more per capita on healthcare. This care is generally provided by privately owned hospitals or physicians in private practice, but public hospitals are common in older cities.
see more on Wikipedia
The government covers a little over one-quarter of the population through healthcare programs for the elderly (Medicare), disabled (Social Security), military service families and veterans (Tricare and VHA), children (SCHIP), and the poor (Medicare). Federal law ensures public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay. However, this unfunded mandate has contributed to a health care safety net that some analyses say is increasingly strained. Certain types of medical spending and particularly health insurance benefit from significant tax subsidies; in particular, employer-sponsored health insurance is a non-taxable benefit.
see more on Wikipedia
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