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Will America Ever Get on Board with Universal Healthcare?
…and can we afford to take care of every person?
With another huge wave of Covid crashing down on us, the flaws in our healthcare system are becoming more and more apparent. Hospitals don’t have the supplies they need because private hospitals often “save money” by not ordering emergency backup supplies and equipment to keep on hand. With medicines being rationed due to short supply, hospitals and clinics are choosing who is eligible for treatment based on income and insurance coverage. Even the Covid at-home testing kit companies jacked up prices before they signed a new contract with the government.
But one of the truly horrifying things is that being hospitalized for Covid could put many people in debt for life. Some may even have to file for bankruptcy just to pay for medical bills. Around 27 million people are uninsured in America, meaning they will have to pay for all of their healthcare costs out of pocket… a bill that could exceed a million dollars for some who get very ill. According to the American Journal of Public Health, 2 out of 3 bankruptcies in the US are tied to medical bills.
Part of the problem with for-profit healthcare is that it leaves many without insurance, as not all people can afford it. Around 9% of the US population is currently…
