Healthcare

. Being as communism has gained such a negative connotation in America, all related systems are subsequently detested. Thus, while a large percentage of capitalists oppose socialized medicine, most fail to recognize the overall advantages it can provide. The most common argument against socialized medicine is that it will lower the quality of healthcare. However, studies indicate that this is not the case. On the contrary, the majority of countries currently under some form of universal healthcare have longer life expectancies, lower infant mortality rates, and better overall rankings. America comes in 42nd in infant mortality with 6.3 deaths per thousand births. In life expectancy we rank just 46th with an average life of 78.14 years. In terms of overall healthcare, America comes in 37th, barely surpassing Cuba (World Health Organization 152-155). Of the 36 countries currently ahead of us in terms of medicine, 25 are under some form of universal healthcare. There are only 11 other countries in the world with universal healthcare, two of which, Iraq and Afghanistan, have healthcare provided by the U.S. through war funding. The other nine countries, which consist of Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Chile, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and the Ukraine, are considerably less affluent than America and other industrialized nations. Thus, conceivably their healthcare system would be lacking. Due to the inequalities of our healthcare system, uninsured citizens often refrain from seeking necessary medical attention in fear of costly bills. As a result they are far more likely to die of disease and other illnesses than those who can comfortably pay their hospital fees. Approximately 18,314 people die a year due to lack of necessary medical attention. Also, people suffering from colon or breast cancer are 50% more likely to die if they are uninsured (Sternberg). Uninsured people who develop aortic aneurisms are more likely to die, even after having surgery. According to Kara Gavin from the University of Michigan, "Not only are uninsured people with the condition more likely to be diagnosed only after their aorta bursts, but they're also twice as likely as insured patients to die after surgery to fix the problem, even if the operation is done before the aneurysm ruptures," (Gavin). Our current healthcare system endorses huge inequalities between classes that favor the rich at the cost of the poor. Due to our system of free-market healthcare, the wealthy receive preferential treatment, while the poor face a significantly higher risk of death, solely due to their economic status. As a result of our healthcare program, millions go uncovered and denied necessary medical attention. Not only have we created unfair disparities between the classes, but we overpay for healthcare and still receive worse results. The only solution to our current health crisis is a system of universal healthcare. Universal healthcare will not only ensure all U.S. citizens their inalienable right to proper healthcare, but it will increase the overall standards and outcomes of our system as a whole. Work Cited: 1. World Health Organization, "The World Health Report 2000, Health Systems: Improving Performance." (2000) 152-155. 09 Nov 2008; http://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/whr00_en.pdf. 2. Central Intelligence Agency, "Rank Order-GDP-Per Capita" The World Factbook. 06 Dec 2008. 9 Nov 2008 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/rankorderguide.html 3. John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, "Americans Spend More on Health Care But Are Not Healthier" 04 May 2004 9 Nov 2008 http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_release/PR_2004/Hussey_healthcare.html. 4. U.S. Census Bureau,"Census Bureau Revises 2004 and 2005 Health Insurance Coverage Estimates" 09 Aug 2007 12 Nov 2008 http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/health_care_insurance/009789.html. 5. Sternberg, Steve. "18,000 Deaths Blamed on Lack of Insurance” USA Today 22 May 2002 10 Nov 2008 http://usatoday.com/news/health/healthcare/2002-05-22-insurance-deaths.htm 6. Statistics Canada: Canada's National Statistical Agency, "Access to Healthcare Services in Canada" 11 July 2006 10 Nov 2008 http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-575-XIE/82-575-XIE2006002.htm. 7. NACCHO: National Association of County and City Health Officials, "Local Public Health Readiness Grows Stronger, New Study Shows; Report Also Shows Large Variations in Size and Funding Across Nation."; 11 Oct 2006 10 Nov 2008 http://www.naccho.org/press/release/pr2006_10_11.cfm. 8. CBPP: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "The Number of Uninsured Americans Continued to Rise in 2004"; 30 Aug 2005 11 Nov 2008 http://www.cbpp.org/8-30-05/health.htm 9. Tu, Ha T. "Rising Health Costs, Medical Debt and Chronic Conditions"; Center for Studying Health Systems Change Issue Brief No. 8 8 Sept 2004 11 Nov 2008 http://hschange.org/CONTENT/706 10. World Health Organization, "World Health Report 2006, Working Together for Health"; (2006) 187. 11 Nov 2008 http://www.who.int/whr/2006/annex/06_annex3. 11. Harvard School of Public Health, "Poll Finds Americans Split by Political Party Over Whether Socialized Medicine Better or Worse Than Current System."; 14 Feb 2008 13 Nov 2008 http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2008-releases/poll-americans-split-by-political-party-over-socialized-medicine.html 12. Himmelstein, David U., Elizabeth Warren, Deborah Thorne, and Steffie Woolhandler. "Illness and Injury As Contributors To Bankruptcy."; Market Watch. http://www.moranlaw.net/archives/health&bankruptcy.pdf 13. Gelman, Andrew, Boris Shor, Joseph Bafumi, and David Park. "Rich State, Poor State, Red State, Blue State: What's the Matter with Connecticut" Quarterly Journal of Political Science (2007) 355. http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~gelman/research/unpublished/redblue11.pdf 14. Gavin, Kara. "Study: Aorta Problems Pose Extra Risk to Uninsured"; University of Michigan Health System 23 Sept 2003 16 Nov 2008 http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2003/aorta.htm