Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, and in the United States Hawaii, all use a system of health care that is universal, comprehensive, and private. In, 1993, President Clinton proposed a plan for universal health insurance. Since then opponents have managed to oppress the plan while assuring the public that while they supported the idea in principle, they just wanted to package it in a better way. Major changes in the present healthcare system will have consequences for nearly all Americans, as would the decision not to reform the system. The politics of health care involves at least four different interrelated aspects. The United States should adopt a Universal Health-Care system based on; the rate at which health care costs have risen in recent years, the large number of Americans without health insurance coverage, the disproportionate care based on racial and a socioeconomic divide and an aging population.

The aspect of the healthcare issue that is most visible is the cost of medical care in the United States. The cost of health care in America is the highest in the world when measured either as a percentage of gross national product or as cost per person

The last aspect of healthcare reform is the issue of our aging population. As more Americans live longer, the number of elderly citizens has increased, producing a greater demand for health care. Elderly people have more illnesses, need more health care, and require more costly health services. The average elderly American spends up to $350 monthly on medications alone. The aging of America's large middle-aged generation (the "baby boomers" born shortly after World War II) will produce another surge in demand for health care early in the twenty-first century. Because of the impending aging of the "baby boomers" the Medicare system cost is estimated to triple.

. The health care costs in the United States are estimated to approach $2 trillion dollars by the end of 2000. This is more than $3 billion per day, or $3600 per person. Healthcare costs in the United States have increased three to four times the rate of inflation. An average American who spends 11.1% of their income on medical care can expect that number to increase to a staggering 17% in the next fifteen years. One can attribute skyrocketing health care costs to the administrative costs of insurance companies. There are about 1500 insurance companies using a bewildering array of forms and procedures in processing claims. One estimate is that this administrative system costs more than $100 billion per year. This means that between 10 and 15 percent of health care expense's result from the costs of processing claims for reimbursement. More than any other aspect of the healthcare issue, it is cost that is driving the debate about the need for reforms.

Unfortunately, the forecast is for rising numbers of uninsured Americans

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Approximate Word count = 1152
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)