Universal health care is a matter of hot debate, with strong opinions on both sides of the aisle. Many of the misconceptions surrounding health care result from confusion on just what the term means. There are actually several forms of universal health care that a country or state may adopt. Each has its own benefits and weaknesses.
Single-Payer Health Care
A single-payer universal health care system is governed by a single public or mostly public agency that handles all payments for health-care services. Under this plan, all citizens of a given country or state are covered for all necessary medical procedures, according to the Physicians for a National Health Program website. Delivery of health care, such as doctors, nurses and hospitals, remains largely private under this system, with patients free to choose which doctors and hospitals care for them.
Private Universal Health Care
Private universal health care is a wholesale deregulation of the industry in which the government has zero involvement. The only thing the government does in private universal health care is to pass a law requiring that all citizens have health insurance. This system depends on private insurance companies to compete with one another to hold down health-care costs in ways similar to how auto insurance companies function. Patients retain choices in health-care providers but are confined to those the insurance company covers. In this system, if the insurance company chooses not to cover a procedure, a patient has little alternative other than to pay for it out of pocket.
Socialized Medicine
In socialized medicine, doctors, hospitals and other health-care professionals draw salaries from the government. The health-care system is directly supported through taxes and other public funds. All citizens are guaranteed coverage for all necessary medical procedures. As of 2010, countries such as the United Kingdom and Spain have forms of socialized medicine where doctors and patients are still able to decide the best course of care. The government makes no decisions regarding necessary medical procedures.
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