Universal Health Insurance in the U.S.?

by Jill Kane

While universal health insurance is an undesirable topic in Wasington, health care specialists agree that some type of universal coverage would save lives and possibly dollars as well.

According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, uninsured were sick more frequently than insured and more likely to die younger, resulting in approximately 18,000 deaths per year.

Even though health care specialists agree that universal coverage is essential, they don’t necessarily agree on the methodology of obtaining it. Dr. David Himmelstein, of the Harvard Medical School, believes a single- payer formula, similar to the Canadian universal health plan would be the best solution for the U.S. A study he conducted showed that administrative costs represent 31% of total health care costs in the U.S. Himmelstein believes that elimination of the bureaucratic insurers would save roughly $375 billion a year. Dr. William McGuire, chief executive of United Health Group, disagrees with the single- payer formula. He believes in mandatory insurance based on the concept of an essential benefit.

Affordability is the most important aspect of any universal coverage plan. The Bush administration believes the way to cover uninsured is to make insurance affordable by implementing tax subsidies for businesses and encouraging them to offer plans with high deductibles, which cost employees less.

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