Explain why the lack of Universal Health Care Coverage can raise health care costs.
Thank you Ms. Sue for your previous help....
Insurance companies are in business to make a profit. A universal health care plan would not make a profit. Also -- a single payer could hold down costs where dozens of insurance companies don't have the clout to control costs. Countries with universal health care plans spend less per person than the U.S. but their citizens have better health than Americans.
http://www.policyalmanac.org/health/universal_health.shtml
Certainly! The lack of Universal Health Care coverage can actually lead to higher healthcare costs in several ways.
First, without Universal Health Care, there may be a significant portion of the population who lack adequate insurance coverage or are uninsured altogether. This means that when they need medical care, they may delay or avoid seeking treatment due to concerns about the cost. As a result, their conditions may worsen, requiring more extensive and expensive treatment in the long run. This can increase overall healthcare costs because preventive care and early intervention are often more cost-effective than treating advanced or chronic conditions.
Secondly, without Universal Health Care, the burden of providing healthcare for the uninsured falls on the healthcare system as a whole. Hospitals and healthcare providers often have to absorb the costs of treating uninsured patients. To compensate for these uncompensated expenses, healthcare providers may increase prices for medical services for insured individuals and government-funded healthcare programs. This cost shifting can make healthcare unaffordable for many people, contributing to rising overall healthcare costs.
Furthermore, when a significant portion of the population lacks access to affordable healthcare, they may rely more heavily on emergency room services for their healthcare needs. Emergency rooms are designed to handle acute and life-threatening conditions, and they are generally more expensive than other forms of primary or preventive care. When uninsured individuals use emergency rooms for non-emergency care, the costs of their treatment are often significantly higher than if they had received care in a clinic or primary care setting. These higher costs are ultimately passed on to the healthcare system as a whole, leading to increased healthcare expenses.
In conclusion, the lack of Universal Health Care coverage can raise healthcare costs due to delayed or avoided care, cost shifting to insured individuals and government-funded healthcare programs, and increased reliance on expensive emergency room services. Universal Health Care aims to provide coverage for as many individuals as possible, which can help reduce healthcare costs by promoting preventive care, early intervention, and more efficient use of healthcare resources.