Universal Healthcare in America

Abstract

Lack of health care insurance, once thought to be a problem of the poor, and has now begun to affect a new population- the middle class. The major factors contributing to this are increased deductibles and co-payments, cost shifting and the introduction of managed care networks. The idea of a universal health plan has been introduced several times over the last few decades. With the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid came the promise of a more inclusive health care plan for all Americans. However, Medicare and Medicaid remain largely unchanged from what they were when they were first introduced in 1965. The U. S. was built on the foundation of ‘unalienable rights’. Why then is the number of uninsured and uninsured rising and projected to continue rising? This article seeks to explore these questions.