Why the United States Should Adopt a Single-Payer System of Health Care Finance

Although nothing could be less fashionable today than talk of comprehensive health care reform, the major problems of American health care have not gone away. Only a radical change in the way the U.S. finances health care--specifically, a single-payer system--will permit the achievement of universal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Kennedy Institute of Ethics journal 1996-06, Vol.6 (2), p.145-160
Main Author: DeGrazia, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioethics
Canada
Federal Government
Health administration
Health Care Rationing - economics
Health Care Reform - economics
Health Maintenance Organizations - economics
Health Services Accessibility
Internationality
National Health Insurance, United States - economics
National Health Programs
Preferred Provider Organizations - economics
Resource Allocation
Single-Payer System - economics
United States
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Summary:Although nothing could be less fashionable today than talk of comprehensive health care reform, the major problems of American health care have not gone away. Only a radical change in the way the U.S. finances health care--specifically, a single-payer system--will permit the achievement of universal coverage while keeping costs reasonably under control. Evidence from other countries, especially Canada, suggests the promise of this approach. In defending the single-payer approach, the author identifies several political and cultural factors that make it difficult for Americans to obtain a clear view of this option. Finally, the author argues that much discussion of rationing is vitiated by bracketing more systemic questions to which the issue of rationing is inextricably linked.
ISSN:1054-6863
1086-3249
1086-3249
DOI:10.1353/ken.1996.0011