Abstract
A universal, single payer model for the American health system aligns with and should emanate from commonly held values contained within the country’s foundational religious teachings, morals, ethics and democratic heritage. The Affordable Care Act in its attempt to create expanded health access has met with significant challenges. The conservative Supreme Court decreases the likelihood of a federal mandated single payer model. As uncertainty of the structure of the healthcare system increases, this paper supports its transformation to a single payer model. Healthcare should be considered a duty within the framework of a Kantian approach to ethics and a social good. Evidently ignoring this duty, the American health system perpetuates a healthcare underclass, with underserved portions of the population, with unequal access to quality care and persistent health status and outcome disparities. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the effect of social determinants on optimal health outcome. A health insurance system based on the nation’s commonly held values has the potential to eliminate these disparities.
Highlights
A health system can be compared to a symphony, in which all musicians harmoniously work together to a common goal
A denial of membership as “one of us,” is antithetical to the foundational values that have been discussed in this paper
If the value of equal justice for all is upheld, health care cannot be divided into haves and have nots
Summary
A universal, single payer model for the American health system aligns with and should emanate from commonly held values contained within the country’s foundational religious teachings, morals, ethics and democratic heritage. Healthcare should be considered a duty within the framework of a Kantian approach to ethics and a social good. Ignoring this duty, the American health system perpetuates a healthcare underclass, with underserved portions of the population, with unequal access to quality care and persistent health status and outcome disparities. A health insurance system based on the nation’s commonly held values has the potential to eliminate these disparities
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