What is Universal Health Care?

[M.UHC_Admin]

The term "Universal Health Care" is "health care" that is provided to all citizen's and permanent resident's of a Governing Nation regardless of financial and medical status.  It is generally paid for by public taxation, then pooled by the government and used to pay for health care needed.

To better understand Universal Health Care (UHC) there needs to be a basic understanding of health care policy, taxation, public interests and governmental knowledge of what is provided for.

To help people understand the breakdown of UHC and it's counterparts here is an explanation:

Types of Universal Health Care

The term "universal" is covered on a broad spectrum.  Because it can encompass many different policies and ways of instigating it.  The implementation of UHC varies according to social and capital construction. 

Social - Universal Health Care - Provided to "all" by Government Policy and care.

Capital - Private Health Insurance - Driven and paid for by the Private Health Sector.

An example of Universal Health is the UK, Australia and/or Canada.  While often countries like Canada and Australia are called "Socialized Health Care" it is in fact "publicly funded" -not the Government.  Because of this, countries such as Canada and Australia are not seen as being a socialized system.  The reason why they are not seen as being socialistic, is that alot that health care is still supplied by Private Conglomerates.  These Private Sectors act as Contractors.  They merely bill the Government Sector for the services they provide to the public.

Single Payer Health Care

Countries that have "Single Payer" Health:

Canada: Health Canada 

Australia:  Medicare Australia

Single Payer Health Care is the provision that all people from the Public (You) and Business Sector fund taxation for Medical Services to the Government.  This money is then pooled by the Government and used to cover 85%- 100% (for needs) medical services in that country to ALL citizens.

An entity is then created to administer the funds.  The Admistrating Body then pays Health Care Professionals for Services.  In effect it helps to alleviate the myriad amount of health insurance companies with one provider.  Private Health Sectors can still exist in UHC Countries.  They can be used for elective procedures or further care at the choice of the individual which they pay for. 

Multi Payer Health Care

Multi Payer UHC is when both the Public (You) and Private Health Care Providers fund the health care of others.  To make this work, the Government sacrifice interest and allow for private health companies to continue having competition within the sector.  

The difference between Single and Multi is the Administration of funds.  There is no body to regulate the competition of Private Health.  These countries provide basic and "sick" coverage (less than the previous percentage), with more important health matters - it can then be supplemented by the private health sector.

Countries with Multi Payer:

 France

Japan

Germany

(Links cannot be found).

Municipality Care

Municipality care is the taxing of individuals and possible businesses - which is then pooled by a "local" Government.  Hospitals are not Federally run, but according to locality.  Funding is also taken from immediate patient charges and other possible benefits.  Private health insurance can still be taken

In some instances - Federal taxation can be given to a "local" municipality and used for the needs of the individual.

Countries that have this:

Finland  (No link found)

Conclusion

The breakdowns of Universal Health Care - Single, Multi and Municipality goes to show that the word Universal and Care carries a very broad spectrum.  A country can possibly have a "social" structure without being universal.  A universal sector can be Universal without being "social" as well.  (Just turn it around).

The argument against Universal Health Care is that Government "own" Hospitals, Doctor's and all health within.  Which in actuality in alot of cases, is incorrect as Doctor's can choose at their own liking whether to use it or not.  

Other arguments surrounding UHC is the philosphy of whether Health Care is a fundamental right for all.

Last note

Please feel free to add and extend the information that you find to this thread. 

Peace out!