Conclusion

In conclusion, the barriers to healthcare access are not only moral, but they can be financial, or based on policies as well. While it may be easy to say that everyone should have the right to free healthcare, the situation is not that simple. Chapter 13 in our textbook references how “social policy” differs around the world. Social policy, according to the textbook is when governments have dedicated programs to reduce poverty and need among its citizens, such as childcare or healthcare. The definition that the book gives is “Government programs designed to reduce poverty and inequality, including programs designed to provide insurance for health care, unemployment, and sickness/disability, as well as benefits for retired workers.” The book mentions that “The United States lags far behind many other postindustrial societies in adopting social policies…” People in European countries, for example, can enjoy the benefit of paid parental leave and guaranteed childcare, while citizens in the US still have to fight over days off and vacation time. As stated on a previous page, many European countries have adopted many forms of social policy- they have given their citizen Universal Healthcare. We, in the US, do not have that. The Unites States has been reluctant to make use of universal social policies, instead relying on formal policies such as health insurance companies. The American Medical Association, as mentioned in the textbook in chapter 16, has been “vigorously opposed (to the) establishment of a national health care system such as those founded in most other countries” because it will destroy insurance companies and make the government the body in charge of healthcare. As a result of our fractured healthcare system, we now have what the textbook refers to, also in chapter 16, Health and Medicine, as a “health disparity” between the population. A health disparity is “a difference in health status linked to social, economic, or environmental conditions…” (Manza, 2020). Obtaining and maintaining healthcare and health is more costly depending on what part of the world you live in- physical access to facilities, finances, and formal policies all play a role in that.