Universal Health Care

Universal Health Care
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Institutional Affiliation

Universal Health Care
The state should accord universal health care to individuals without the means to afford primary health care as a basic commodity. The state spends significant amounts of money on health care, a field which the private sector also holds a stake. Olson states that among the many theories and material criteria of universal health care include John Rawls’ social contract theory (2012). A necessary element of any initial social contract between the state and individuals is the provision requiring universal health care by a single-payer system (Smith, 2013). This was the reasoning behind the United States’ Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) introduced by the Obama administration.
Rawls theory argues that the character of the social contract could be expressed by envisioning the promises made by people looking to form a community together given the original members were perceived as rational and just (Monagle & Thomasma, 2005). This is similar to Americans supporting universal health care policies brought forth by a government voted in through a democratic process. The element of societal rationality from the theory arises because of the supposition that they are knowledgeable of their societal interests and have chosen means of gaining their objectives. Furthermore, the individuals are just as a factor of lack of knowledge of certain personal interests (Monagle & Thomasma, 2005).

The utilitarian theory of universal health care stresses a fusion of criteria for the role of maximizing societal use. Therefore, universal health care maximizes the most significant commodity for a significant population (Olson, 2012). The introduction of the PPACA by the American government demonstrates the rational and just elements proposed by the theory in the provision of health care to all individuals as a commodity advocated by the utilitarian theory. The state recognizes the society’s need for equal access to health care and attempts to maximize the societal utility of health care through providing unbiased health care policies ensuring the interests of the community are met.
Virtue ethics theory dictates that individuals should support those who are not supported by the underlying system (Hayden, 2005). This argument differs from social contract theory since a rational society would not always view it as fair to have all individuals, especially those who can afford health care without the support of the state, to support those without the means to afford health care.

References
Hayden, P. (2005). Politics and ethics in review. New York: Nova Science Publ. p 173.
Monagle, J. F., & Thomasma, D. C. (2005). Health care ethics: Critical issues for the 21st century. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. P 404.
Olson, R. P., & MDIV, R. P. O. P. D. (2012). Moral Arguments for Universal Health Care: A Vision for Health Care Reform. AuthorHouse. P 264.
Smith, G. P. (2013). Re-negotiating a theory of social contract for universal health care in America or, securing the regulatory state. Cath. UL Rev., 63, 423. P 11.