by Ben Trimble

Created on: November 05, 2009   Last Updated: November 07, 2009

A universal healthcare plan sounds like a good idea. Who doesn't want things free. This plan, however, has some huge drawbacks that would make the United States a very different place to live. I will tell you why a universal healthcare plan will not work, and then I will tell you a solution that I think would solve the problems in healthcare today.

The first thing I am going to talk about has to do with the current system of private health insurance. This system is due to fail, and I have no doubt about that. Not everyone can afford health insurance, and here is why. The goal of private health insurance companies is to make money. Healthcare costs are expensive.

Just one surgery could cost more than most Americans make in a couple years. That is why healthcare costs are expensive. These companies cannot afford to pay for an expensive operation ahead of time for everyone. Health insurance companies don't like those who need a lot of medical care such as doctor visits or surgeries, because it costs a lot to keep them as a customer.

They don't maximize profit. This is a basic business concept. Businesses need to maximize profit. This is why insurance companies charge so much. They have to be able to pay for your medical expenses.

Here is where the current system will fail. In our current economic situation, everyone is finding ways to save money. One of those things can be health insurance. Those who are young and healthy will begin to drop health insurance because they don't think they will need it. That is risky, but a lot of money could be saved by doing this.

Now, the insurance companies aren't getting much profit. They have to raise their prices due to the loss of customers. They have to do this just to stay in business. This increase in price will make health insurance less affordable. Now the people who think they might need insurance have to drop it because they can't afford it. Once again, insurance rates increase due to the lost customers.

Now those who are sick and need insurance are stuck paying extremely high prices because they have to. It is more affordable than not having insurance at all. We don't want this to happen and that is why things need to change.

Now, to address the concept of implementing a universal healthcare system. England currently has a universal healthcare system similar to the proposed one in the United States. Here is how it works. Each and every person has free healthcare. They also have a NHS number that represents their

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