Once you’ve decided to enter the often-murky waters of politics, it doesn’t take long to stumble upon the hot issues. One of the most difficult issues mired in debate today is the question of universal healthcare and its place in the United States. Now, if you are aware, at all, of how this is being covered by the mainstream media, including web outlets, then you know that it is one of those truly divisive debates that cut across party lines.

If you insist on navigating these trouble waters, then you should have some sense of what universal healthcare is and what you need to know to be properly informed. Let’s take a look at 7 things you need to know about universal healthcare.

1. “Universal” means that the health care coverage is offered to all eligible residents of a political region.
2. The U.S. is the only industrialize nation that does not have some form of universal health care system.
3. The United States spend a higher percentage of its gross domestic product on health care than any other country in the world. At the same time, it lags behind in term of the quality, efficiency, access, and safe care. It is also has longer waiting time than most countries that currently offer universal health care.
4. It is fact that universal healthcare is gradually talking shaping the country already. Two states, Hawaii and Massachusetts, already have some form of universal coverage available to their citizens.
5. It should be noted that almost 59% of the U.S. health care system is already publically funded in the form of state and federal taxes, property taxes, and tax subsidies.
6. The current coverage system is inadequate. It fails to offer any sort of measurable reach to the largest percentage of Americans. The most recent counts place the number of uninsured at approximately 46 million people. An additional 25 million are currently underinsured.
7. Much of the debate has centered on augmenting existing coverage options by adding a government-backed option that would provide an alternative in case you want to drop your current private or employer-funded coverage. It is cheaper when compared with other universal health care options like the single-payer health care system.

There are obviously more points that could be added to give you a clearer picture of the particulars, but these seven points should suffice for now. If you want to learn more there are plenty of resources out there online.

M. E. Ward writes about how to obtain a masters in health administration (MHA).

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