Health Coverage: Access, Affordability, and the American Dream
Affordable, Accessible Coverage Options for All
1 Millions of people might lose their insurance coverage, and employers might be forced to choose between providing health insurance or remaining competitive.
2 The Obama plan aimed to ensure all Americans receive coverage for any disease, regardless of health or medical history.
3 Implementing Obama’s plan requires reordering priorities in agriculture, education, and environmental policies, as these areas impact the public health system.
4 FALSE: “Nowadays, fewer Americans receive health insurance coverage through their employers…”
5 FALSE: “Under the Obama plan, Americans will be able to maintain their current coverage…”
6 Options
7 Improve
8 Lack
9 Never give up; you can do it!
10 Was driving
11 The doctor told me/him/her not to take another pill until the next day/the following day. The doctor said (to me/to him/to her) not to take another pill until the next day/the following day.
12 As/Since/Due to the fact that she has been working really hard for years, now she owns her own business.
13 How much (money) do you have in your wallet?
14
The Right to Medical Insurance: A Discussion
A) “Everybody should have the right to enjoy medical insurance no matter their financial status.” Discuss. Nice statement, isn’t it? So, if this is so good, why are there still so many people outside any system of medical insurance, private or public? Since the beginning of the 20th century, and as the decades went by, especially after World War II, universal medical insurance has been an aim, a longing and a dream for many politicians, economists, social thinkers and philosophers. This has been so for many, but not for most thinkers, let alone has there ever been an unanimous consensus on the issue. Universal medical insurance is regarded by many as one of the main pillars of the Welfare System. However, only in European societies, Canada and Japan are we able to watch this dream come true, while the United States of America remains to this day the only developed, industrialized country which does not provide for universal health care for its population. For many Americans this old dream is far from being a reality. How come that one of the richest and most powerful countries (and also one of the countries which spends most in health care) in the world, hasn’t cared to cater for the health needs of its entire population? ‘Money seems to speak louder than words’. America is known for its competitive and raging capitalism, it is a free market, so the market should regulate all walks of life. Or not? Well, ask the over 45 million Americans who cannot afford basic health benefits and many millions more whose basic coverage excludes them from many health provisions, barely allowing them to have a decent coverage. And then, ask again the health insurance companies whose profits keep skyrocketing year after year. Of course they are not charities, but their profits are more than outrageous and immoral compared to the situation of millions of people. Money-making should never be a priority over people’s health. And now, ask again, only this time to governments, why do they allow this to happen? Do they not care about the welfare of their own? Is Obama really going to do something about this? And most importantly, despite the slogan of his campaign, ‘can he?’ There is a difficult balance between money and ideals. If this is such a hard battle in the United States, what hope can we expect to have for those who live in underdeveloped countries? Does really ‘money speak louder than words?’