Why does Universal Health Coverage Not Exist in the United States? A Physician’s Perspective

Professor of Surgery, State University of New York (SUNY)–Downstate, USA

*Corresponding Author: Rainer WG Gruessner, Professor of Surgery, State University of New York (SUNY)–Downstate, USA; Email: [email protected].

Received Date: October 10, 2023

Published Date: October 20, 2023

Citation: Gruessner RWG. (2023). Why does Universal Health Coverage Not Exist in the United States? A Physician’s Perspective. Mathews J Case Rep. 8(9):128.

Copyrights: Gruessner RWG. © (2023).

ABSTRACT

Universal Health Coverage does not exist in the United States for two reasons: (1) there is a general unwillingness to dismantle the historically grown framework of the most complex mix of public and private sector health coverage and (2) mere cost considerations. The first concern can be abated by establishing a Universal Health Coverage system which retains many or most of the grown U.S. health infrastructure. The two proposed pathways presented herein comprise either (1) a leveled solution through Medicare-expansion for the uninsured only or (2) a more complex solution through a national, 2-tier healthcare system for all Americans. Both pathways are based on solid financing without major tax increases by using existing and/or yet untapped funding sources. For the sake of forming a more perfect union as stated in the Constitution, Universal Health Coverage in the United States must no longer be an illusion that continues to haunt our society in the 21^st century.

Keywords: Universal Health Coverage, Medicare-expansion, 2-tier Health Insurance, Health Policy, Health Economics.