Analysis: Health Care Reform in the United States

Since the beginning of the 1900's health care reform has been in the political agenda of most presidents. The beginning of universal health care reform efforts can be traced back to the progressive era. President Theodore Roosevelt supported health care insurance because he believed that in order for a government to be strong, its citizens had to be physically and mentally healthy. Due to the fact that Roosevelt's successors were conservative in nature, the management of universal health care was postponed for more than twenty years. The first committee established in hopes of reforming capitalism in the health care industry was founded in 1906. The American Association of Labor Legislation was a group of progressive activists who created a bill that provided health care for the working class and those who earned less than $1200 a year. The bill created conflict among the opposing private insurance companies and the American Federation of Labor. As a result of the anti-German fever, universal health care reform became associated with socialistic beliefs. Therefore the idea of health care reform was seen as an attempt to bring communism to the United States. This anti universal health care sentiment ended the national health debate until the 1930's.

The preceding pro-universal health care president was Franklin D. Roosevelt. His first attempt in reforming health care was his proposal of the Social Security Bill of 1935. Roosevelt's plan consisted of a three part program which was comprised of an old-age welfare pension, social security benefits, and optional annuity certificates. Roosevelt's second attempt in pushing for universal health care came in the form of the Wagner Bill, also known as the National Health Act of 1939. This bill proposed a national health program in where medical care would be funded by federal grants given to states by the national government. Unfortunately, a conservative revitalization ended Roosevelt's hopes of universal health care. Despite all his efforts in reforming health care, Roosevelt failed to pass the Wagner Bill. In 1945, after Roosevelt's death, Truman became president. After a struggling 40 years filled with failed attempts in reforming the health care system in the United States, under Truman the health care debate finally moved into the political arena. Even though Truman fully supported the idea of universal health care, due to the Cold War, this idea became entangled with "socialized medicine". Citizens were starting to believe that universal health care would strengthen the national government so much, to the point where the United States would become a communist country. Truman's plan was different than Roosevelt's because Truman believed in a single payer health care system one which included all classes of society, not just the working class. Even though Truman constantly pressured congress in the passing for this bill, after the republicans took control of Congress in 1946 universal health care was blown out of the public agenda. Republicans in congress were against the bill, claiming that universal health care was part of a large socialist scheme. Ever since then, the phrase universal health care is associated with socialism. Bill Clinton is one of the most influential presidents in the movement for universal health care. According to many, Clinton's proposal would have led to more government intervention and higher taxes. It was calculated that if the Clinton bill was passed, the average American family would have spent $3,056 per year on health care. Opposing arguments were centered around the fact that universal health care would deteriorate the rights of citizens in choosing their own form of health care. Others believed that the Clinton bill would have led to a destruction of jobs and an overall increase in taxes.

The most recent attempt in reforming health care was seen by President Barack Obama. The House of Representatives introduced "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, H.R. 3200, which was Congress' first attempt in reforming health care under the Obama administration. If the bill was to be passed then it would provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending. Although H.R. 3200 would not make illegal immigrants eligible for the premium, the bill would ease overall health care costs for the low income class. But most importantly the bill would prohibit discrimination among those with pre-existing conditions. Unfortunately H.R. 3200 was not approved by the Senate. Therefore the Senate passed the "Affordable Health Choices Act" on September 17,2009. This act consists of providing Americans with affordable health care by reducing costs, while at the same time enhancing disease prevention and strengthening the health care workforce. Unfortunately both houses of Congress are still debating over the two proposed bills.

Sadly, neither H.R. 3200 nor the "Affordable Health Choices Act" introduces within its content the idea of universal health care. If universal health care was to be approved in Congress then every American citizen would be guaranteed free medical care. Many people fear the idea of universal health care because the believe its socialistic in nature. Also because they worry the government will have a monopoly over the health care industry. Some misconceptions regarding universal health care include the assumption that Americans will have longer waiting periods and that patient care will corrode. Other arguments include the idea that doctors will earn less through a single payer system, in where the government reimburses the doctors for their job.

The truth regarding universal health care is that it will be less expensive for the government to partake in a single payer system due to lower administrative costs. As of 2009, the United States ranks relatively low in health care compared to other industrialised nations, by providing its citizens with universal health care the United States would be able to improve its pathetic ranking. Even though most associate universal health care with socialism, reality is that most Americans approve of universal health care.

Those who are against universal health care believe that the United States should rely on private insurance companies for medical care. Others believe that the public option is the way to go. The public option was introduced in H.R. 3200, it consists of creating a health insurance plan financed by premiums given by the federal government. This would provide non-working citizens with a chance of acquiring health care. The health care debate has proposed many solutions in solving our current health care problem. Whether it be partaking in universal health care or providing citizens with many options, the United States has still not seen a change in the struggle for a better health care system.




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