Should Quality Healthcare be Free?
In short, yes. But why? Before the depths of why universal healthcare should be a reality can be explored, the relevant facts must be recognized. “All but forty-three countries in the world offer free or universal healthcare (International Citizens Insurance).” Of the 152 countries that offer healthcare, thirty-two have universal healthcare, meaning that there is a healthcare system in place that provides coverage to at least 90% of the population. Free healthcare, however, means that all citizens receive healthcare for little to no cost. Quality of healthcare varies from country to country, however, in these countries it is for free or low cost (International Citizens Insurance).
There are three main stakeholders in the debate of free healthcare: governments, healthcare professionals, and citizens. Governments may claim that free healthcare is too expensive, which can be true, unless a flat percent tax was implemented to pay for the program. Healthcare professionals’ pay would change, which may cause them to disapprove of free healthcare. However, they would be able to keep all medical data in one database and only have to use one insurance, resulting in less costly medicines and vaccines being available to more people, as it lowers administrative costs. Lastly, some citizens believe that socialized healthcare leads to longer waiting times and lower quality healthcare. This can be true, which is why there should be a universal standard for treatment that is heavily enforced firstly by state governments, then federal governments, and lastly by the UN or World Health Organization. Other citizens desperately want and need free healthcare. Many people do not receive quality health insurance due to their economic status or pre-existing condition; free healthcare would help create a healthier workforce and lower future social costs due to the increase in preventive care from a young age (Amadeo).
Having quality free healthcare is necessary, but it is also ethical due to the four key bioethical principles. If free healthcare was to be offered worldwide, it would guarantee autonomy, the assurance that all competent individuals have the right to accept or refuse a service, and justice, the idea that all citizens deserve equal access to a service, because it would ensure that all people, regardless of class, race, gender, religion, etc. have access to quality healthcare. This is important due to the fact that many people do not have access to healthcare at all. Free healthcare is also non-maleficent as no government would be able to harm its citizens by denying them access to treatment. Lastly, free healthcare is beneficent- it acts in the best interest of the citizens. It is also the government’s easiest way to make sure that all of its citizens are cared for.
There are three ways in which quality free healthcare could work. The first is to make government issued free healthcare the only option of available healthcare. This would be the best option for healthcare providers and federal governments as it lowers administrative costs and creates a clear system of how healthcare should work. This would also be non-maleficent and just because it would be equal quality healthcare for everyone. It would also be beneficent as it acts in the best interest of the entire population. It does, however, violate a citizen’s right to autonomy. They would not have the ability to refuse the service of free healthcare. Thereby, a second option would be to expand the Medicaid system. If there was a better program offering affordable quality care, then the people who needed healthcare would be able to have it without forcing it on people who do not want it. This option grants people autonomy and is just because it gives everyone an opportunity for free healthcare. It is less efficient for the doctors as it is another government service that they have to deal with, but it also ensures non-maleficence and beneficence as it guarantees that no citizen would be without care. Lastly, the best option would be to have a worldwide mandate that governments have to offer free quality care. This option would allow other insurances to coexist, allowing citizens the option to choose between government regulated healthcare and independent healthcare companies. Thereby, this option grants autonomy. It also lets the healthcare providers guarantee justice, non-maleficence, and beneficence as it offers equal opportunity for quality free insurance which is essential in reducing harm.
However, it is doubtful that healthcare will ever be free worldwide. It is doubtful that healthcare will ever be free in America. I find that scary. I believed that with the rise and domination of COVID-19, people would begin to show empathy. I believed that the jarring number of people losing jobs, losing insurance, and losing their lives would make people realize that free healthcare is not only a desire, but also a necessity. I believed that a worldwide pandemic would show people the reality that so many people could have been saved, if only they had the means. Yet, my beliefs were proved wrong. “An estimated 9.2 million have lost their employer-provided health insurance,” and the government decided that the best course of action was to send out a one-time $1200 stimulus-check that was gone by the first set of bills (Reich). How will America ever be “great” when Trump, a billionaire, was able to profit off of free healthcare when he infected hundreds of others and people are still dying because they cannot afford to get help?
Works Cited
Amadeo, Kimberly. ““Why America Is the Only Rich Country Without Universal Health Care.”” The Balance, The Balance, 13 March 2020, www.thebalance.com/universal-health-care-4156211. Accessed 10 December 2020.
International Citizens Insurance. ““Which Countries Offer Universal Health Care?”” International Citizens Insurance, 3 December 2020, https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/countries-free-healthcare.php. Accessed 14 December 2020.
Reich, Robert. “Covid-19 pandemic shines a light on a new kind of class divide and its inequalities.” The Guardian, 26 April 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/25/covid-19-pandemic-shines-a-light-on-a-new-kind-of-class-divide-and-its-inequalities. Accessed 6 January 2021.
https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/countries-free-healthcare.php. Accessed 14 December 2020.
Reich, Robert. “Covid-19 pandemic shines a light on a new kind of class divide and its inequalities.” The Guardian, 26 April 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/25/covid-19-pandemic-shines-a-light-on-a-new-kind-of-class-divide-and-its-inequalities. Accessed 6 January 2021.