In a recent speech at the University of New England, Sen. Bernie Sanders highlighted the urgent need for improvements in the United States’ health care system. Despite having one of the most expensive systems in the world, the country does not necessarily have the best outcomes. Sanders emphasized that addressing social and economic costs of not providing adequate care is crucial and stressed the community’s responsibility to ensure basic health care needs are met for all individuals.
Sanders pointed out that failure to provide necessary treatment can lead to long-term issues such as chronic homelessness or substance abuse, which are costly to manage. He also mentioned that quality prenatal and postnatal care has numerous benefits, such as reducing incidence of child abuse, increasing vaccination rates, and ensuring developmental milestones are met. Access to mental health and substance abuse treatment for parents is also essential for overall family health.
Research conducted at Yale University has shown that implementing a universal healthcare plan like Sanders’ Medicare for All could reduce national healthcare expenditures by 13.1%, amounting to $458 billion saved annually compared to the current system. These savings do not even account for social costs associated with not providing care. Universal healthcare is not only affordable but also necessary for population well-being. It is time for America to prioritize universal healthcare.
Nurse Susan Henderson from South Portland echoes Sanders’ sentiments, highlighting the importance of addressing healthcare disparities and taking a comprehensive approach to healthcare reform. She stresses that ensuring universal access to primary care is essential in reducing long-term costs by addressing issues early on before they become more severe or expensive to manage.
In conclusion, it is clear that improvements are needed in America’s health care system. By addressing social and economic costs of not providing adequate care and prioritizing universal healthcare, we can improve outcomes while reducing costs over time.
