America Cannot Afford Its Current Failed Healthcare Situation

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart

Republicans continue to cost our nation billions and possibly trillions of dollars every year. Their allegiance to the super-rich and large corporations saves them money but wastes hundreds of billions of dollars by preventing changes in our healthcare system which continues to fail as many as 80-90 percent of our nation’s people.

Republicans want to reserve the best healthcare in America for their wealthy supporters and themselves. Remember, you pay for theirs.

FACTS REPUBLICANS DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW

[The United States spends more on healthcare per person than any other high-income country, and more than the governments of six countries with universal healthcare combined:

In 2022, the U.S. spent $12,555 per person on healthcare, which is more than $4,000 more than comparable countries. The U.S. government also spent more on healthcare than the governments of Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, and Austria combined.]

Taking into account both the costs of coverage expansion as well as savings that would be achieved through the MAA, we calculate that a single-payer, universal healthcare system is likely to lead to a 13% savings in national healthcare expenditure, equivalent to over $450 billion annually.]

ALL OF THIS IS TRUE, SO WHY DOESN’T OUR GOVERNMENT DO THE RIGHT THING?

Let’s be perfectly clear and truthful. Every issue which needs to be addressed and has been ignored is the direct result of one problem: always follow the money.

America is a business first and last. Somewhere in between, we hope that the needs of our nation’s people are cared for by our elected officials. Therefore, it is easy to see why universal healthcare does not exist in America.

If we look at the Constitution, the 14th Amendment forbids the existence of lobbies. The Equal Protection Clause guarantees equal protection for all Americans under the Law of the Land.

Every major industry has multiple lobbyists inside the Capitol Building. I know of only one group advocating for me and my fellow seniors: the AARP. However, they are greatly outnumbered by lobbyists employed by for profit hospitals, the larger insurance companies, and the pharmaceutical industry. They literally bribe our Representatives and Senators to ignore the needs of all Americans. They are fighting to retain their ridiculously huge profits by keeping hospital costs at a level unaffordable for most Americans, insurance rates high and pursuing efforts to deny claims, and keeping life-saving drugs much higher than those of any other nation.

A PROBLEM DECADES OLD AND STILL WITHOUT A SOLUTION

I am 78 and for my entire life adequate healthcare for all has been discussed but ignored. Nearly 58,000 families are homeless in the United States, many of which lost their homes and their quality of life because of outrageous bills resulting from medical emergencies.

I actually hate any politicians who claims the “America is the greatest country in the world.” I hate those even more who tell us that “America is the richest country in the world.” Where is that America? I can’t find it. A survey of 15 developed nations reveals that the United States is last in the most important issue: quality of life.

One half of all Americans struggle in the low-income and impoverished income levels in our country. This is irrefutable proof that there are two Americas and why income inequality is a serious, growing problem.

THIS INFORMATION IS PROOF

This information I give you is absolute proof that there is no legitimate excuse for ignoring the need for some form of universal healthcare. However, I have no doubt that our “do nothing government” will continue to ignore the facts. They have done the same thing with domestic terrorism, the high cost of education, and sensible immigration reform for decades.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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Source: https://www.citizen.org/news/fact-check-medicare-for-all-would-save-the-u-s-trillions-public-option-would-leave-millions-uninsured-not-garner-savings/