The universal health-care systems, proposed by president elect Barack Obama, may be the last hope for many people living without medical insurance and in poverty. People who have very low incomes cannot afford the hundreds of dollars needed in order afford health insurance, and so they live without any, hoping not to get sick. Obama’s system would help these people and many believe that universal health-care is a step in the right direction for the US.

 On the other hand, many have criticized Obama’s plans for a universal health-care system, calling it of a socialist nature and that it would change the principles the country was founded on.
Unfortunately, the health care reform may not happen at all as creating a new government-sponsored enterprise — a taxpayer-financed health plan, run by federal officials, that would “compete” directly with private health plans is very hard to accomplish.

An universal health-care system would also provide for lower costs for drugs, as it will be easier for these to be imported from other developed countries, and for a great reform in the health-care system. .

The plan proposed by Barack Obama would cost approximately $50 billion per year and it would imply lower costs for businesses by covering health care in exchange for lower premiums for employees, it will prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for malpractice insurance and require hospitals to collect and report health-care cost.

Some argue that the US cannot afford at this moment to resuscitate the health care system, as the financial crisis is very severe. On the other hand, a good counter argument could be that people are getting sicker and sicker while prices for treatments and health care are getting higher and higher. This should be the first priority, the health system.