Is Universal Healthcare Socialism?
No. Universal healthcare is not socialism. For decades developed capitalist countries around the world have had universal health care. These countries consider universal health care necessary for a healthy economy and population. Places like Australia, Japan, and Canada all have universal health care. But they are capitalist economies. The US is one of the few developed, capitalist countries without universal health care. Learn more about why universal health care is not socialism.
What is Universal Single Payer Healthcare?
In a single-payer system, there is a single agency or payer. This agency collects money from dedicated taxes or premiums. It then pays all hospitals, physicians, and other practitioners for their services. Patients still choose their own doctors and hospitals. They remain as independent as they are today.
What is socialized healthcare?
It is a system in which the government owns the hospitals and clinics. It also employs healthcare workers. The British National Health Service is the best-known example. Scandinavian countries and Cuba have socialized health care systems. The Veteran's Health Administration and the US military also offer socialized health care. In contrast, Canada uses a single payer health insurance system. The government finances health care. It pays doctors and other caregivers but does not employ them or own hospitals. It does not deliver health care.
What is the difference between socialized medicine and universal healthcare?
Socialized medicine is one kind of system that delivers universal health care services. In socialized medicine, the government pays for health care and operates the hospitals. Other health care systems like single payer, also deliver universal health care. The government purchases health care services from private providers in single payer systems.
So, both public and private systems can deliver universal health care coverage. Sometimes, a combination of the two works to deliver health care to all.
For example, Canadian Medicare is a publicly governed system that provides universal coverage. Canada uses single-payer health insurance.
Learn more about universal single payer healthcare--attend an Advocates’ meeting!
When: 4th Mondays, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Online (for now). Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpcOqsrj0rGd0jyoFXpTP3-mVOzxqArREe
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email. The email will contain information about joining the meeting.
Mike Huntington
Vice-Chair
Mid-Valley Health Care Advocates
541-829-1182
Health Care for All, Everybody In, Nobody Out
hcao.org, mvhca.org
