Answering this question varies as widely as the nations that already offer universal healthcare systems, though each model has advantages and disadvantages that must be accounted for when creating UHC (universal health care).
UHC is an important global goal because it ensures all citizens can gain access to affordable essential health services without financial strain or impoverishment, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals related to health and ensuring equity in access, quality, coverage and coverage of essential services. UHC benefits can range from increased life expectancy and productivity increases in the workforce; reduced chronic disease burden such as cardiovascular and respiratory infections associated with high out-of-pocket expenses; as well as decreased out-of-pocket expenses related to chronic diseases or conditions like cardiovascular and respiratory infections that burden society at large.
First step toward Universal Healthcare Coverage is creating a single funding and financing system, which enables countries to regulate costs through price regulation while eliminating competition between private insurers and government-owned enterprises. Next is building up capacity within health systems while expanding access through integrated, person-centered care models with sustainable financing mechanisms.
Implement insurance reforms that offer consumer protection and nondiscriminatory practices, such as guaranteed issue, restrictions on underwriting based on health status or age criteria and annual/lifetime caps on coverage/benefits. According to the American Medical Association’s position statement on Universal Health Care (UHC), all successful models must include such reforms for success.
U.S. states with universal health care have taken various approaches to meet their goal of universal coverage, from mandating insurance for all residents, creating public marketplaces for individual and small business health plans, expanding Medicaid, or even mandating work requirements to qualify for certain programs like CHIP under ACA – but incremental approaches alone cannot lead to full universal coverage.
Politics remains the single greatest impediment to UHC in the US. This can be seen through various attempts at repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, state legislative actions to limit Medicaid eligibility, and Republican-dominated state laws that make it easier for employers to drop employee sponsored coverage.
UHC is a vital global priority that cannot wait – evidenced by the fact that an average American spends half their income on healthcare. Achieve UHC will require commitment from all parties involved and most especially from its public; individuals need to understand how and why UHC works before it becomes reality in their lives. In essence, there are only two viable approaches: public option ensuring no out-of-pocket costs or incremental approaches which threaten UHC. APHA stands in solidarity with national and international organizations in declaring universal health care as our right – let us put our money where our words lie!