Universal Health Care – Single Payer System

April 8, 2010

By Padmini Arhant

On April 7, 2010 the amendments to the health care law were recommended based on the components in the bill.

Since the sole purpose of health care reform was to end the plight of the several million Americans without health insurance and those denied coverage for various unscrupulous practices by the insurance industry, the federal program via public option and expansion of the prevalent system such as Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and VA was proposed.

Besides, the amendments to health care legislation are also focused on containing the burgeoning health care costs that has been contributing to the rising national deficit.

Therefore, in order to achieve the combined goals of providing quality and cost controlled health care, the formal decision is to amalgamate the federal programs into a unified Single Payer System that has been long approved as the most effective measure by the non-partisan groups within and outside the health care industry.

Universal health care through Single Payer system is ideal in many aspects.

The important elements being the non-discriminatory health care access to all citizens regardless of gender, age and medical history as well as the convenience in enlarging the existing model that is accepted by the legislators on both sides of the isle.

In addition, the main feature of this system is the universal standard that would be applicable in the health care management saving lives and costs attributed to overheads reflected in the high premiums charged by the private insurance industry.

Single Payer System set up with a common facility providing services to all – 24/7, and a medical treatment available anywhere around the country is the prudent policy to meet the challenges in the health care crisis.

It would streamline the costs and eliminate the most feared concerns such as waiting period, pre-authorization, annual limits…experienced by the insured and the uninsured patients right now.

Even though the health care legislation that was passed addresses some of these issues, there is no guarantee that the private sector would not default through loopholes. It’s a persisting frustration among the insured.

The universal health care creates opportunity to negotiate periodically with the health service and pharmaceutical industry that would inevitably produce savings for all contributors in the industry.

Furthermore, the centralized system is easy to monitor and update technology, the nerve center of the concept.

Competition among the health care service providers promotes quality including the desirable choices for the insured in seeking the appropriate treatment.

Fraud and malpractice could be curtailed under the blanket rule for the industry.

Rewarding the health service and pharmaceutical industry through incentives upon quality improvement including limiting expenses for consumers and taxpayers would benefit the economy.

Universal insurance under federal program would ease the burden on the society – the individuals, small businesses and the Corporations.

With respect to the private insurance industry and their survival in the face of the ‘Single Payer system’:

The private health insurance industry is going to continue their service to the affluent demography and the segments resistant to federal health insurance program like the single payer system.

During the health care debate, there were voices expressing content with the health care policy they own and have maintained for some time. Perhaps, they belong to the healthy groups and low-risk category.

Needlessly, they were misguided by the opponents propagating false information – ‘the “socialized medicine” an imminent threat to their mere existence and that the federal program is being imposed upon them against their will.’

Nevertheless, it’s a significant proportion of the market share that would allow the private sector to cater to the population interested in high-end products and services.

For instance, there are consumers who prefer the private insurance determined by individual lifestyle and clients seeking non-medical procedures like the cosmetic surgery that would not be covered under the universal health care.

It offers preferences to the insurance subscribers to accommodate their personal needs.

Having monopolized the market until now, there are avenues available to the private sector within the consumer base that are impenetrable.

At the same time, being mindful of the factor that the private insurance industry also employs a large number of the American workforce, the ‘selective media’ critics demand to erode the private sector in the health care repair would exacerbate the unemployment status in the dire economy.

Even though, the job loss in the private industry could be absorbed by the public sector expansion, the disproportionate hiring in the private industry as compared to the public system would leave behind a residual number without jobs, thereby affecting the struggling job market.

Hence, restoring those jobs is essential in the health care salvation.

Innovation is the key to success in a competitive environment and the private insurance not likely to submerge with the abundant resources at their disposal.

Universal Medicare is a guaranteed protection for it would be available 24/7 regardless of the citizens’ health conditions.

The people of the United States deserve an efficient, cost saving, choice oriented health care system such as the Medicare for all.

Under the ‘not-for-profit’ universal healthcare, otherwise the single payer system, the consumers would invest the premiums in their health rather than the insurance industry agenda.

Citizens across the socio-economic spectrum will have peace of mind with the universal Medicare.

I request the leaderships to modify the health care legislation to a “Universal Medicare,” also known as the “Single Payer System,” with recognition that,

It’s legislatively possible through the legitimate reconciliation method, and the law made effective latest by April 16, 2010.

Funding source would remain the same that were passed in the health care legislation including the revival of the deal with the health care service and the Big Pharma during the health care legislative process.

Also, please refer to the article titled “Amendments to National Health Care legislation,’ for funding details.

Your understanding and cooperation is appreciated.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Health 

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