TL/DR –
The U.S. healthcare system is perceived as ‘morally wrong’ by some international officials, as it lacks universal access, has high costs and inefficiency and yields poor health outcomes despite high spending. This is according to analyses by non-profit agencies the Commonwealth Fund and KFF, which also state that the U.S. spends significantly more per capita on healthcare compared to other wealthy nations. Furthermore, the National Institute of Health estimates that over half a million Americans file for bankruptcy each year due to medical bills, with medical issues contributing to two-thirds of personal bankruptcies.
Does the U.S. Healthcare System Violate Human Rights?
The current U.S. healthcare system, often criticized as inadequate and negligent, has drawn concerns from international bodies. They argue that the lack of universal access to healthcare in the U.S. may violate human rights.
These concerns are mostly raised in the context of international law and the right to health. The lack of universal access suggests a failure to ensure the right to health for U.S. citizens, a viewpoint that many foreign officials share.
Notable figures, like former U.N. chief Ban Ki Moon, have labeled the U.S. system as ‘morally wrong’ due to the lack of universal access. The high cost and inefficiencies of the U.S. healthcare system are often cited as reasons for these strong criticisms.
The criticism is based on analyses from two non-profit, non-partisan agencies, Commonwealth Fund and KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation). They report that the U.S. spends more per capita on healthcare than other wealthy nations but has worse outcomes.
The U.S. system is criticized for leaving many citizens without adequate access to care, resulting in less equitable health outcomes. Despite high spending, the U.S. ranks last among comparable nations for key outcomes like life expectancy, infant mortality, and chronic disease management.
Many attribute these criticisms to the U.S.’s failure to enact a universal healthcare system, often referred to as a single-payer system or Medicare for All. These terms gained traction through efforts of Senator Bernie Sanders, who has long advocated for healthcare reform.
His “Medicare for All” legislation was introduced in the Senate in September 2017, but his advocacy for a single-payer healthcare system goes back decades. However, the US remains the only one of the 38 developed nations in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development without universal healthcare.
Healthcare Bankruptcies in the US
The consequences of inadequate healthcare include more than just poorer health outcomes. According to the National Institute of Health, more than a half-million Americans file for bankruptcy each year due to medical bills. These medical-related bankruptcies reportedly affect around 2 million Americans annually.
Furthermore, a 2022 investigation by KFF Health News and NPR found that over 100 million people (41% of adults) struggle with unpaid medical bills. This problem stretches beyond uninsured individuals; many who file for bankruptcy or grapple with debt have insurance.
Regrettably, cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and The Affordable Care Act under the Trump administration are expected to increase medical-related bankruptcy numbers. The future of the U.S. healthcare system, already criticized for being inadequate, looks bleak unless substantial reform occurs.
—
Read More Health & Wellness News ; US News