Introduction
Medical treatment and healthcare are basic human needs in modern society. It is considered that having the right to healthcare will prevent medical bankruptcies, enhance public health, lower overall health care costs, support small companies, and make healthcare a basic government function (Britannica 1). The American government should bear the responsibility for its citizens’ well-being, and that includes their healthcare.
The First Reason
The right to healthcare is recognized as a basic human right; thus, when visiting a hospital, a patient should have access to its facilities and treatments. It has been stated that “about four in ten US adults say they have delayed or gone without medical care in the last year due to cost” (Montero et al. 1). High costs prevent people from a lower income background from using the healthcare system. According to the National Bankruptcy Forum, medical debt is the main reason people file for bankruptcy in the United States (National Bankruptcy Forum 2). Moreover, financial worries can interrupt the recovery process of the patients; hospitals and clinics should be places of care, not uncertainty.
A just society must have a foundation built on the right to healthcare. However, the current healthcare system disproportionately affects uninsured adults and people of color (Montero et al. 4), which leads to the unjust treatment of that part of the population. To establish a just society that is fair to everyone, the United States already offers free public education, public law enforcement, public infrastructure maintenance, and other public services to its residents. The provision of healthcare should be included because it is not morally right to charge people with basic healthcare needs when the state provides other public services.
The Second Reason
In comparison to other high-income nations, the USA is the only one that does not have a universal healthcare system. Chemweno found that “The National Academy of Sciences stated that the US has a higher rate of chronic illness and a lower overall life expectancy than other high-income nations” (Chemweno 2). If the government provided universal healthcare, then people with chronic illnesses would be able to afford necessary treatment. This would have a positive impact on overall life expectancy. If the United States implemented a universal right to health care, businesses would no longer have to pay for employee health insurance policies (Britannica 7). Therefore, businesses would have spare finances that could be invested in innovation and development.
Moreover, free healthcare would have a positive effect on economic growth since people would have fewer days off. Furthermore, if they could afford regular checkups, the US would become a healthier nation. This, in turn, will increase life expectancy and have a positive effect on taxation and public income, which is beneficial for the government. With one less thing to worry about, people will be able to increase their spending, which will increase the local economic level.
Conclusion
Being able to receive medical treatment without having to worry about any expenses afterward should be a norm for every US citizen. Healthcare is a basic human right that our government needs to implement. A free healthcare system will enable faster economic growth, longer lifespans, the better quality of life, innovation promotion, and small business development. By providing free universal healthcare, the US government will benefit from the act in the end.
Works Cited
Britannica. “Should All Americans Have the Right (Be Entitled) to Health Care?” Web.
Chemweno, Johonniuss. “The US Healthcare System is Broken: A National Perspective.” Managed Healthcare Executive, Web.
Montero, Alex, et al. “Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs.” Kaiser Family Foundation, Web.
National Bankruptcy Forum. “10 Statistics About US Medical Debt that Will Shock You,” 2022. Web.