Would Universal Healthcare Really Work in the U.S.?

Pretty much every rich, developed nation on the planet has universal healthcare, EXCEPT for the U.S. Should we join them, or does our current healthcare system have advantages that we don’t want to lose?

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**How does healthcare work in the U.S.?
In the U.S., how you want to pay for healthcare is entirely up to you, as long as you have the money. Most people choose to buy health insurance. If you’re low income or over 65, you can get it from the government, but pretty much everyone else has to buy it from companies. You pay a set amount of money every month, and in return, the insurance company pays for most of your medical bills if you get sick or hurt. You can also choose to NOT buy insurance. If you’re young and healthy and never have to go to a doctor or a hospital, you’re gonna save money. But you’re at risk for paying a LOT of money if you DO have a medical emergency, like a car wreck or falling off your bike and breaking your arm. So, it’s a gamble.

**So how does universal healthcare work?**
There are a BUNCH of different ways to get universal healthcare, and every country does it a little bit differently. There’s SOCIALIZED MEDICINE, where the government owns the hospitals, and the doctors and nurses are government employees. There is SINGLE-PAYER, where doctors and hospitals are private businesses, but there is almost no private insurance. Instead, the government provides health insurance for everyone. It can also work with PRIVATE INSURANCE, where people buy it from companies, but it’s HEAVILY regulated by the government, which REQUIRES everyone to have health insurance.

**What are the pros with universal healthcare?**
With universal healthcare, everyone is covered, your insurance isn’t tied to your job, and it would cost less

**What are the cons?**
Taxes would likely go up to pay for it, the quality of care might change, and the individual would have less choice.

SOURCES:
Single payer healthcare: Pluses, minuses, and what it means for you (Harvard Health Publishing)

The Virtues and Vices of Single-Payer Health Care (New England Journal of Medicine)

International Health Care System Profiles (The Commonwealth Fund)

Why Single-Payer Would Make Health Care Worse for Americans (The Heritage Foundation)

Medical Bankruptcy: Still Common Despite the Affordable Care Act (American Journal of Public Health)

How do US taxes compare internationally? (Tax Policy Center)

Health at a Glance: OECD Indicators (OECD)

Health System Tracker (Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation)

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[RidvanMaloku]

The thing is that here in the States even if you pay for your health insurance they do everything they possible can to not cover you. It is like one of those bad friends, you are always there for them, but they are no where to be found when you need them the most.

[David]

Wait a minute a YouTube channel that talks about American political issues without a clear bias?? Omg amazing!

[ВладимирЧерников-лч]

The qaulity of care argument against universal healthcare isn't valid, in a country like this one (Australia) we have universal healthcare, everyone is covered, but at the same time those who wish to pay for private healthcare with better qaulity of service simply do so.
just because we have universal healthcare doesn't mean there isn't private healthcare. Everyone is satisfied and taken care of.

[cbc]

“It’s 3AM and you are wide awake”

Me: *looks at clock* Whoops...

[StealthyCowbell]

I'm astounded that you were able to not revert to and political biases while making this video. Well-rounded assessment of the pros and cons. Great work!

[SaucerJess]

In 2015, I had a brain aneurysm rupture at the old age of 27. I was in perfect health (just ran a marathon). The total amount billed was over $7.2M. I'm lucky I had really good health insurance from my work. Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy here in the US. Please vote 💚

[Lerkero]

The downvotes must be from insurance companies. This video is very informative

[ozzyfromspace]

I’m shook. Such class, understanding, smoothness, and fairness in this presentation. I’m subbed, this was an amazing video and really showed how nuanced this question could be, for better or worse. The way you evaluated both ends of the argument was really top notch!

[Submanca]

You forgot to add the cost of health insurance when you compared the taxes. That would show that Americans already pay more.

[spencer]

To all the fiscal conservatives out there, our government spends 40k PER PERSON per year on health care. Countries like Germany and the UK? They spend about 10-15k. If you care so much about reducing the deficit, why aren't you on board with this?

[Btcbtc]

See, this is a great comprehensive explanatory video on how Universal Healthcare may or may not be better than what we have here in America already. It is NOT saying: "GOP is against the American people", or "Capitalism is bad, socialism is good for healthcare", or "Trump is the cause of why medicare is so expensive!". This video just compares and contrasts, no bias or anything 👍

[MrKenny]

Yes it is worth it because if you would ask any one from countries with socialized medicine to move and adopt the US model they would laugh at your face. It may be a simple explanation but it is very telling. Also to rebut the less freedom of choice argument, if the doctor you want to go to is not in network for your insurance then you can’t go to them. In socialized systems you can go to any doctor you want because they are all in network. Now that is true freedom of choice.

[thomasr.jackson]

Good overview, touching on the main issues with reasonable fairness and accuracy. Good job.

[TikkanenP]

In Sweden we ha universal health care - but, boy, you will have to a time for treatment. Sometimes even when you rush to hospital with an ambulance. The system costs a lot - so the Government can not afford to hire more staff. You could say that the health care system is universal - but only on paper.

[jinglejazz]

Ive never paid a dime for healthcare costs, everything is covered. no monthly premiums, no copays, no deductables, no limit. never seen a doctor bill. I had a heart attack 4 years ago. everything covered. ambulance to edmonton, even the ride home paid for. surgery, drugs, after care excellent. Even the nurses at the hospital told me they have friends, family working in the USA and they all said. its a nightmare, with or without insurance. great video, well done.

[cheybat]

Any discussion of the cost of taxes for healthcare should compare that cost against the cost of private insurance.

[laurennicole]

Man i just love how fair an unbiased this series is! Totally subscribing

[ryanpierce]

As an American. We need universal Healthcare. No excuses.

[somecuriosities]

Love how Universal Health Care only seems to be a "controversial issue" if you live in the good ol' U.S of A..! 😔

[johndicksonkaraoke]

My Aunt Died of Cancer in California and my Uncle had to Sell the House to Pay for the Medical 🏥 Bills. The United States Needs Universal Healthcare.