People in the US pour billions into the health insurance industry, yet doubts persist about its impact on patient care. With the highest healthcare spending globally but lowest life expectancy among similar GDP nations, the rage against for-profit healthcare has intensified. Take UnitedHealthcare (UHC), the most profitable insurer, which builds profits by denying coverage. After the assassination of its CEO, prior authorization denials became a hot topic. These debates have reignited the call for a publicly funded, single-payer system. Physicians and medical workers are leading the charge, uniting with other social movements.

Uncovering the Truth Behind US Healthcare

Current System Woes

Under the current for-profit system, doctors face restrictions from insurance companies. As Dr. Margaret Flowers recounts, "From day one, insurance companies dictate what you can and can't do for patients." This leads to wasted resources as dollars meant for care go to insurers. In 2022, UHC made a whopping $20 billion in profit, and other giants raked in billions too. Working people bear the brunt, with high out-of-pocket costs and deductibles. A recent study found that even with private insurance, people spend $646 on average for an emergency department visit. This forces them to avoid seeking care when sick or injured due to cost concerns.Another aspect is the astronomical overhead costs. In the US, administrative costs amount to around 30% of total healthcare spending, while in Canada with a single-payer system, it's only 17%. This highlights the inefficiency of the profit-oriented system. Doctors like Dr. Flowers spend a lot of time on administrative hassles, getting insurance company permission for care. She even had to fight with insurers to get proper care for her patients.

Towards Single-Payer Healthcare

Single-payer healthcare aims to remove private entities from the system. Under this model, all healthcare costs would be covered by the government. Advocates like Dr. Flowers want a comprehensive system that covers all aspects of care. "We want a system where facilities are publicly owned and healthcare professionals work for the government," she says. A single-payer system is popular among the majority, with 62% of Americans in favor according to a Gallup poll.Dr. Flowers, a former pediatrician, left her practice due to frustration with the health insurance corporations. She now advocates for a better system. Under a single-payer system, the entire health insurance industry would become obsolete.

Opposition and Challenges

The health insurance industry fiercely opposes single-payer healthcare. As Dr. Steffie Woolhandler explains, if healthcare were provided publicly and non-profitly, the industry would go out of business. They see it as a life-or-death struggle. The opposition also comes from other forces like the pharmaceutical industry.Administrative costs not only waste money but also create barriers. Doctors have to deal with complex paperwork and fight for every nickel and dime. This takes away time from patient care. Dr. Flowers herself faced retaliation for speaking out for a national healthcare system. She knows of doctors who lost their practices for advocating this issue.

Fighting for a Better System

Activists see a renewed opportunity after the death of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. Progressive legislation like Medicare for All is being introduced. But it's important not to tie social movements to a political party. Democrats often promise support but don't follow through. A broad political movement is needed, bringing together various movements like workers in Jackson, Mississippi, the climate movement, and the anti-war movement.Fighting for single-payer healthcare means mobilizing working people and healthcare workers. As Dr. Himmelstein says, major health reforms are part of broader social progress. In other countries, national health insurance was part of a broader political mobilization. We need to unite and push for a public nationwide healthcare system.