A System in Crisis
Why American Healthcare Is Failing Its People
For millions of Americans, the promise of quality, accessible healthcare feels more like a cruel joke than a reality. We are citizens of the wealthiest nation in history, yet over half of our countrymen report difficulty in obtaining the medical services they need. The system isn't just bending; it's broken. And for many, the legislative overhaul, what some ironically call a "Big Beautiful Bill," has shattered what little security remains, potentially making adequate coverage a luxury reserved only for the elite.
The anxiety is palpable and personal. Consider the countless individuals navigating the Health Insurance Marketplace. This isn't a hypothetical fear; it's a stark reality. My personal insurance plan through Humana, for example, is set to cost me over five thousand dollars in premiums next year. This isn't due to a sudden decline in personal health, but the potential disappearance of the very tax breaks that make such plans viable. When subsidies vanish, the full, crushing weight of a for-profit system falls squarely on the shoulders of the individual, pushing essential care out of financial reach.
This struggle is a uniquely American one. We stand alone among industrialized nations in our refusal to adopt a universal healthcare system. So where does our money go? In a bitter twist that critics continually highlight, it funds the very systems abroad that we are denied at home. Even the money we give to Israel for their genocide goes to pay for Israel's proletariat Healthcare, and, with a lagniappe of “fuck you”, their education as well, while we are left to navigate a predatory marketplace and lending industry on our own.
The roots of this crisis run deep, with many tracing the initial fractures back to the Nixon administration's promotion of the HMO model, which prioritized cost-containment over patient care. This shift laid the groundwork for a system where profit, not patient outcomes, became the primary metric of success. The subsequent rise of a powerful tech oligarchy has only accelerated this decay, creating a system that is as inefficient as it is inhumane.
Nowhere is this dysfunction more apparent than in what the system arbitrarily decides is not "healthcare." Our teeth, our eyes, and our brains—dental, vision, and mental health—are treated as optional add-ons rather than integral components of our overall well-being. Correcting a dental issue, getting proper eyeglasses, or seeking therapy can cost thousands of dollars out of pocket. While some insurance plans offer a veneer of coverage for these basics, they rarely extend to major work, because there is no mandate forcing them to. It is a glaring, nonsensical omission that leaves millions to suffer from preventable conditions.
At the heart of this ordeal stands the insurance industry: a grift of monumental proportions. These companies function as costly, bureaucratic middlemen, standing between you and your doctor. Armed with tools like "prior authorization," they have perfected the art of denying coverage on technicalities, delaying critical treatments, and second-guessing medical professionals. In the most chilling instances, faceless committees hold the power to make decisions that are quite literally a matter of life and death, all while being beholden to shareholders.
Imagine a different reality. A universal healthcare system would untether health from employment, freeing people from the anxiety and fear that keeps them chained to jobs they despise simply for the benefits. Combined with a Universal Basic Income (UBI), it would empower a renaissance of human potential. People would be free to leave exploitative work environments, start businesses, pursue education, or care for loved ones. With the constant, grinding stress of survival lifted, we would see a more engaged and innovative populace, with nearly everyone becoming a more contributing member of society.
This is about more than just medicine; it's about autonomy. It is an end to our subjugation and exploitation by a system that views our bodies as commodities. It is the freedom to explore who we are and what we can contribute to the world, secure in the knowledge that a sudden illness won't lead to financial ruin. Survival should never be tied to productivity.
By building a diverse, ethical, and inclusive healthcare system that serves everyone, we build a better nation. We would become a society that is not only healthier but happier, less fearful, and ultimately, more truly productive in ways that matter.