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What Is a National Health Plan?

In March 2010, President Barack Obama signed what "USA Today" called a "landmark health care bill." The purpose of the bill is to significantly overhaul health care in the United States. The law, as of January 2011, does not provide for a single-payer or national health-care plan, something other countries have enacted with some degree of success.

  1. Elements of a National Health Care Plan

    • Universal health care is not a new concept. Since the 19th century, each country in Europe has enacted some form of a national health-care plan. A national or "single-payer" health insurance system provides medical coverage to each citizen. Within such a system, medical decisions would remain with the patient and doctor; however, the costs and benefits package would be handled by the public agency established to oversee health care.

    Funding

    • Many U.S. citizens believe that a national health care plan would provide "free" coverage, but health care is not cheap. Medical procedures, drug prescriptions and basic overhead costs of running hospitals are expensive. These costs must be managed even in a national health-care plan. If the government operates the plan, the taxpayers must fund the plan. According to Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), however, the tax system provides a way for the legislation to divide the costs of a health-care plan "equitably." For example, the contributions to a national health-care plan could be income-based, similar to the way contributions are made to Social Security and Medicare.

    Pros and Cons

    • There are several advantages and disadvantages to a national health-care plan. Lean Medical Care suggests that a universal system would provide uniform care across the country. Citizens would not have to break the bank in order to obtain medical services. On the other hand, the taxes necessary to fund the program might result in cuts to other essential government spending such as defense or education. Questions could arise as to the system's efficiency. Balanced Politics argues that patients could experience even longer waiting periods for treatment.

    Examples of Countries with a National Health Plan

    • Germany, Canada and France provide some form of a national health-care plan. In Germany, most "blue-collar" and salaried workers are covered under the plan. Self-employed workers and those who earn more than a certain amount of income each year are not covered. In Canada and France, nearly the entire population is covered. In each of these three countries, however, citizens may choose to be covered under the national health plan or under a private health insurer.

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