is the US ready for a single-payer health care system - intro

Throughout the course of the United State’s history the foundation of human rights has continually shifted and expanded. At first, the focus was on human rights for those of certain races or gender and over time the focus of these progressive movements has shifted to more specific issues, such as health care. The concepts of affordable universal health care as a human right as well as a single-payer healthcare system have risen in popularity amidst the rises expenses and conversely deteriorating levels of care. Currently 55% of the american public support a single payer system. (Norman). In its present state, health care in the United States is covered by both public insurance programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid, as well as private insurance companies that are typically granted through one’s employer or directly purchased. (Rice). Following the mounting pressure from the american public as well as several democratic government employees, the affordable care act (ACA) was passed in 2014 which attempted to decrease the amount of uninsured or underinsured citizens. This was the United State’s first step towards a system that began to resemble a single-payer system or national health insurance system where a centralized government system provides universal healthcare that is then performed by private practices. (Dorning). Galae’s article describes the current socio-economic implications of this change, particularly in regards to a single-payer system. Galea provides an assessment of the political landscape by identifying the opposing parties and their concerns before countering these claims using the concept of a single-payer system and the nations that have already implemented this system.