Analysis of HMOs, Single-Payers, and Socialized Healthcare Systems

Canadians have a single-payer healthcare system (A. Snyder, History lecture, April 6, 2009). In a single-payer healthcare system, everyone is covered by the same plan, which pays the private providers. This lowers costs because there is no competition, due to only one plan paying the private providers. There are no healthcare insurance companies who deny patients because the healthcare insurance companies cannot pay the medical bills. Single-payer healthcare systems ensure healthcare for all citizens and citizens are not denied due to their health history. Canadians do not have to choose one healthcare insurance company over the other or be limited to which doctors they are allowed to see. From 1985 to the year 2002, single-payers increased the cost of healthcare by only $1680 while the HMOs in the United States increased the cost of healthcare by $3508 (SB 840 Single Payer Advantages for Employers). Although the number for Canada is lower than the number for the United States, the cost of healthcare in both countries is still increasing. Healthcare insurance companies oppose the single-payer system because it prevents them from making profit off of denying patients.

The United States has the HMOs who help lower costs and pays for the healthcare (A. Snyder, History lecture, April 6, 2009). The way the HMOs lower costs is by avoiding healthcare that cost more than it would be. For example, if someone needs to see an anesthesiologist, the HMOs would send that person to a physician who studies internal medicine. This would help the patient but it may not be enough help. Providers in this system feel that they do not get paid enough so they come up with strategies that will enable them to earn profit. As a consequence, approximately 28% of Americans under the age of 65 are uninsured in 2007 (Health Insurance Coverage). According to Michael Moore’s Sicko, 18,000 people die every year because they are unable to pay for insurance.

Healthcare in the United States is so horrible that the poorest people in England live longer than the wealthiest people in the United States. England has a socialized healthcare system where the healthcare is provided by the government, like how libraries and schools are provided by the government. This type of healthcare system, like single-payer in Canada, is universal; allowing everyone to receive treatment. Doctors in England work for the government and get paid more for healthier patients (Michael Moore). They keep track of the number of patients and their health status. On the other hand, employees of HMOs are paid based on how many people they have denied. Socialized healthcare give the people the power over their healthcare. In this case, the government is frightened by the people but in the United States, the people are afraid of the government. Even the poor people are defenseless against the rich people who bribe government officials into what the rich people want. As an English person stated in the movie, there are two techniques to control: frighten people and demoralize them.

There are pros and cons to the HMO, single-payer, and socialized healthcare systems. Both the HMOs and the single-payer system lower costs in their own ways but greed has motivated the HMOs to deny people for profit and causing over 45 million uninsured Americans. Single-payers and socialized healthcare systems provides healthcare for everyone so that even the poor people can get treated. Given these options, people hope that Americans will make the right choice that will lower healthcare costs and decrease mortality rates.