Just think of a society where any health concern, at any given time for any given person, is given prompt and adequate medical attention without conditions. In this imagined society, healthcare is not a luxurious item that only a few can enjoy but is, instead, provided for anyone regardless of employment status or income bracket—that’s what you call universal healthcare.
What is Universal Healthcare (UHC)?
Universal Healthcare, or UHC, as the name suggests, is a comprehensive health program that is provided universally. It means that regardless of income or employment status, people hold the right to receive medical care and attention without the fear of going penniless in the pursuit of health.
Many countries live like this imagined society and enjoy universal healthcare, or a similarly designed system, that covers their citizens and provides them with a safety net for their health and wellness through promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
The United States, however, remains to be one of the few developed countries without a universal healthcare system in place. This consequently leaves a significant number of its population facing several hardships before accessing adequate medical attention, or for some, never accessing healthcare at all.
The American reality of being held up with sudden expenses through deductibles, co-payments, and premiums for different types of health insurance policies, along with the risk of medical debt, is also ever-present, widening the gap between Americans and the quality medical care they deserve.
What is the Concept of Universal Healthcare?
Universal Healthcare as a concept is firmly rooted in the 1948 World Health Organization Constitution, which states that health is a fundamental human right. In the fulfillment of such a human right through universal health coverage, the government funds a system that provides healthcare to all its citizens regardless of their socioeconomic or employment status.
UHC has had multiple iterations in many countries, like Germany’s Bismarck Model in the late 1880s, which sources its healthcare benefits through social contributions (thus making it employment-dependent), United Kingdom’s Beveridge Model in 1942, which treats healthcare as an intrinsic part of citizenship, therefore, is funded through taxes, and the then-Soviet Union’s Semashko Model in the 1920s which was more ideologically-related and was sourced from the national budget.
Today, around 70-78 countries have adopted a UHC system, either patterned after any of the three models mentioned or tailor-suited to their own country’s needs, historical contexts, and present conditions. Nations who leaned on such a system recognized the need to protect their citizens’ lives and welfare through one of the most important life aspects—health—which is a recognized inalienable human right.
Why is Universal Healthcare Important?
Universal Healthcare is important because your life—and the lives of those you care about—is important.
No one wants to sit in front of piles of medical bills and receipts, wondering how payment would even be possible right after a serious illness has just been recovered from. Certainly, no one wants to hesitate to provide their loved ones the medical treatment they deserve because short prices have made healthcare an elusive service.
UHC is about covering everyone’s health, safety, and welfare without discrimination of their circumstances. In essence, knowing what is universal healthcare ensures that you understand that living a healthy life is not a matter of wealth and resources. UHC is about providing people with the fair and humane opportunity for a well-lived life, empowering them to take charge of their health and wellness, and providing them with the assurance that no matter their situation, their basic human right of living healthily will not cost them their entire life savings, put them in bankruptcy, or drive them homeless.
As poverty remains a persistent global problem, many people, Americans included, put themselves in harm’s way by delaying their health needs due to skyrocketing costs. A December 2019 poll revealed that 25% of Americans say that they or a family member have delayed getting medical attention for a serious illness due to high healthcare prices.
When the fear of paying a fortune for health is thrown out the window, more Americans will be willing to step through the hospitals’ doors, undergo screenings, consult about their health regularly, and avail of essential health services and procedures.
The absence of UHC in the United States has made the urgency of a sound health plan clear and resounding to many people, prompting them to put contingency measures for their health and those they care about.
What are the ‘3 Pillars of Universal Coverage’?
UHC follows essential pillars:
- Population Coverage. Without discrimination, without exemption, and without question, UHC covers the entire population of a certain country.
- Range of Health Services. All basic and essential services and procedures to health and its preservation must be covered by the UHC.
- Financial protection from direct payment for health services when consumed. Citizens in a country with a UHC must be protected from paying for their health treatments and services unless they do not fall under the purview of the coverage.
Protect Your Health with Craft Concierge
The absence of Universal Healthcare in the United States does not necessarily mean we will have to go by without protection.
Life can be unpredictable. As we go about our daily activities, accidents, illnesses, and injuries can befall anyone at any given time. Because of this, proactive steps, coupled with early prevention and detection, plus a health service provider that understands and commits to your health goals, are of the utmost importance.
Craft Concierge offers personalized healthcare plans without the hassle of insurance, surprise charges, or hidden fees. Our services include screenings, vaccinations, easy access to consultations with a team of medical experts, and lifestyle optimization plans tailored to your current and future health needs. Start your journey with Craft Concierge today and gain peace of mind knowing you have a dedicated team supporting your health and wellness. Let’s work together to protect what matters most—your life and health.