Healthcare services are essential for the wellbeing of all people. For a long time, access to healthcare services has been viewed as being a basic human right.
The WHO states that everyone should have access to essential medicines, safe and effective healthcare and essential medical products that meet their needs at an affordable price.
Access to good quality healthcare is vital for the development of any society. It enables people to live longer and healthier lives and helps reduce poverty by improving economic productivity.
As more people are living longer, they will inevitably face chronic illness such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes. These diseases can be managed through treatment but they require access to good quality healthcare services over a sustained period of time in order for them to be treated successfully.
The United States is a country that prides itself on being an exceptional democracy. But when it comes to healthcare, we are far from being the best in the world. Currently, there are approximately 50 million Americans who lack health insurance coverage, and millions more who are underinsured — meaning they have insurance but still struggle to pay for their medical bills.
While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped millions of Americans gain access to quality health care, there is still much work to be done before we achieve universal coverage.
In order to ensure that every American has access to high-quality medical care, we must:
Expand access to medical services; and
Reduce out-of-pocket costs for low-income families.
The Affordable Care Act is here to stay. That means we have an opportunity to move forward and improve the health care system for all Americans.
The challenge moving forward is ensuring that everyone has access to high quality, affordable care. No matter who you are or what your circumstances, no one should go without health care because they cannot afford it.
The future of our nation’s health care system depends on the people in this room: doctors, nurses, and all those who work in the field of medicine. Your voices will help shape how we move forward as a country.
As your president, I’m committed to ensuring that every American has access to high quality medical care at an affordable price.
In the United States, healthcare is a major part of our lives. The health of individuals and families depends on how well they are cared for by medical professionals. However, many Americans face barriers to accessing quality medical care due to their immigration status and/or lack of health insurance.
Access to Healthcare Services: Ensuring Quality Medical Care for All
In 2013, the estimated number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States was 11 million. In addition to being vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, these immigrants often have limited access to basic healthcare services, such as preventive screenings or treatment for chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 33 percent of unauthorized immigrants reported going without needed medical care because they couldn’t afford it.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides an important pathway to coverage for unauthorized immigrants through its expansion of Medicaid eligibility, as well as its creation of state health insurance exchanges that offer private plans with low premiums and out-of-pocket costs. However, there are currently no provisions that allow these individuals to purchase private coverage through an exchange without first proving lawful presence in the United States (i.e., having a Social Security number). This means that many unauthorized immigrants who do not qualify
