Question from @lavender22:
"Would universal healthcare negatively affect the quality of our healthcare? For example, longer wait times to receive surgery or doctors being paid poorly?"
Contentions with Universal Healthcare Model
A concern regarding transitioning toward a universal healthcare system in the United States is the shortage of qualified physicians. Doctors go through rigorous training, spending an excess of 8+ years in medical school and residency before becoming a independent attending physician. Under a free market system, doctors are compensated well for their investment of dedicating their life to medicine with the average yearly salary of $239,000 across the U.S. (Physician Salary in United States - Indeed).
Transitioning to a national healthcare model would include the government determining wages for healthcare workers -- not only physicians, but nurses, technicians, pharmacists, medical lab professionals, etc. This has the potential to deter qualified individuals from pursuing a career in medicine. And this rightfully so, as schooling in any of these occupations is extensive and a major investment from the individual. Even now, we are seeing a shortage of healthcare providers in our country. Compounding with these current and potential future labor shortages, a universal health care system will increase the demand for doctors, as more individuals now have access to healthcare. The resulting effect of the combination of these circumstances would be an overall decline in the quality of services provided. A feedback loop of shortage of providers and greater demand for the services would be produced. The strain on those who do pursue a career in medicine would lead to less time spent with patients, a stressed workforce, and less favorable medical outcomes.
What is the fix then?
It is evident that our healthcare system is strained as it stands currently. Patients and providers alike are dissatisfied with the current model, so how can we go about increasing the reach of community health, while fairly compensating professionals? Personally, I am very interested in preventative health measures, and I see a potential for increasing the availability and affordability of screening, education, and lifestyle changes. Access to these services could be promoted by taxation or government resources. The resulting tax burden would be much lower than full socialization of healthcare, as this care would reduce the likelihood of serious life-threatening complications arising from preventable chronic illnesses. Such services will encourage greater underlying health in the population, causing less need for drastic resources to be spent on treating complications down the road. Holistic medicine and preventative care addresses the underlying conditions rather than putting a band aid atop the deep wound. Preventative care, even through the means of the government subsidies, also gives the individual more responsibility over their health outcomes than a universal health care system. Right now, there is no real market for functional medicine or preventative care, as pharmaceutical products or invasive procedures are not often pushed to patients... insurance coverage in such areas may also be a barrier. However, I think that when patients examine their desired result of care, they would be much more interested in preventative measures that give greater likelihood to longevity, independence, and health throughout the life course.
Resources:
Physician Salary in United States. (n.d.). www.indeed.com. https://www.indeed.com/career/physician/salaries