Question

Critical Thinking Assignment Four

The student should read appropriate parts of Chapter 17 “Domestic Policy” and the course supplement before starting this analysis.

1. Do you have health insurance? If so, how much do you pay each month? Are you satisfied with your coverage? There are 45 million Americans without any health insurance. Do you think access to health care ought to be a basic right? If so, how would you guarantee it and do you agree with ‘Obamacare’? If not, why not. If you do not have health insurance, how do you pay for your medical office visits or hospital emergencies and surgeries?

Answer 1

Health insurance:

Yes; I have. This is a Social Insurance, Medicare.

Pay?

I pay 1.45% of my taxable wages (monthly) in the year 2020. My monthly taxable wage is $10,000. Therefore,

Monthly payment = 10,000 × 1.45% = $145.

Coverage:

The coverage is around 100 times of annual payment, which is around $174,000.

Coverage = (145 × 12 × 100 =) $174,000

I am satisfied with this coverage.

Basis right:

Yes; this is a basic right.

Health care must considered as one of the basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing.

Guarantee:

There would be a guarantee of healthcare for each and every citizen and this should be done by compulsory enforcement of such act. Suppose, if a citizen doesn’t have healthcare policy, he/she will not get certain benefits (like Social Security benefit).

Obamacare:

Yes; I agree with this policy of the government since there is a compulsory enforcement of health insurance for all. This policy lowers the healthcare costs.

If not:

If there is no health insurance, the medical expenses must be paid out of own pocket. Such personal expense could be very high and may not be affordable if the disease is critical and requires “emergency” attention.