HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

The U.S. spends more on healthcare per capita than any other country—over $12,000 annually, according to the OECD—yet it ranks poorly in life expectancy, infant mortality, and preventable deaths. A 2017 study in The Lancet found that the U.S. had the highest rate of preventable deaths among high-income nations. The issue isn’t just inefficiency; it is structural failure. Healthcare costs force over 500,000 families into bankruptcy every year, while millions avoid necessary care due to cost. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed these flaws further, with marginalized communities suffering disproportionately.

Countries with universal healthcare consistently achieve better outcomes at lower costs. Canada’s system, publicly funded and free at the point of service, costs less per capita while delivering superior results. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is one of the most cost-effective models globally. Economist Mariana Mazzucato, in The Value of Everything, explains that public healthcare fosters innovation by prioritizing need over profit. Universal systems prevent financial ruin from illness, ensuring that no one dies because they couldn’t afford insulin or chemotherapy.

Critics claim universal healthcare creates inefficiency, yet the U.S. system is burdened with wasteful administrative costs. A 2020 study in Annals of Internal Medicine found that administration accounts for 34% of U.S. healthcare costs, compared to 17% in Canada. Private insurers divert billions into lobbying, marketing, executive salaries, and bureaucracy rather than actual care. Countries with single-payer systems achieve lower drug prices through government negotiations, preventing the price gouging that plagues the U.S.

Another argument against universal healthcare is wait times. While some nations experience delays for non-urgent procedures, critical care access is often faster than in the U.S. A 2019 Commonwealth Fund report found that Germany and the Netherlands had shorter wait times for specialists than the U.S., despite having universal systems. Unlike the U.S., where patients can be denied care due to cost, these systems ensure that no one is left untreated.

A healthcare system focused on profit disrupts the natural flow of care, creating barriers instead of access. Taoism teaches that harmony arises when systems work in balance—yet the U.S. model creates artificial scarcity, prioritizing corporate interests over public well-being. Universal healthcare restores this balance, aligning medicine with its true purpose: healing. The psychological benefits are also profound. In countries with universal coverage, people experience less financial anxiety about medical costs. A 2018 Health Affairs study linked medical debt to increased rates of depression and anxiety, further worsening public health.

Universal healthcare fosters social cohesion by treating health as a shared public good rather than a privilege. It strengthens democracy by ensuring that no one’s survival depends on wealth. It also benefits the economy—healthy populations are more productive, and public healthcare lowers absenteeism while improving workforce participation. Medicare, despite being limited in scope, demonstrates this efficiency by negotiating lower costs than private insurers. Expanding it to all citizens would achieve similar savings at a national level.

Transitioning to universal healthcare does not mean starting from scratch. Expanding Medicare to cover everyone—often called Medicare for All—is a practical pathway supported by economists and health policy experts. Funding would involve redirecting current healthcare spending, implementing progressive taxation, and eliminating wasteful private insurance costs. The reality is that Americans already pay enough in healthcare taxes to fund a public system, yet they also pay exorbitant premiums, copays, and deductibles to maintain a for-profit model that leaves millions uninsured.

Providing Universal Healthcare is estimated to cost $3.4 trillion per year. This figure is lower than the current $4.3 trillion in total U.S. healthcare spending due to $200 billion in savings from renegotiated pharmaceutical prices, $300 billion from lower administrative expenses, and $400 billion from eliminating private insurance industry profits. Since $1.6 trillion annually is already spent on Medicare and Medicaid, only $1.8 trillion in additional funding is needed to transition to a universal system that covers all Americans.

1. 5% Gross Receipts Tax on Large Corporations
Applies to businesses with over $40B in annual revenue, ensuring that corporate giants contribute fairly to the public healthcare system. ($600B/year)

2. Reinvested Private & Public Premiums
Instead of paying premiums to private insurers, individuals and employers would pay into a public, nonprofit system at lower rates. since the system removes profits and waste. ($600B/year)

3. Value-Added Tax (VAT) on Luxury Goods
The estimated U.S. luxury market is $6 trillion per year. A 10% VAT on luxury goods and high-end services such as yachts, private jets, jewelry, and luxury travel, and high-end real estate transactions structured to affect the ultra-wealthy. ($600B/year)

Critics argue that universal healthcare limits choice, but the opposite is true. In nations with public systems, patients often have greater freedom to choose their doctors and hospitals, as they are not restricted by insurance networks. In contrast, U.S. private insurance plans dictate which providers people can see and impose bureaucratic hurdles like prior authorizations and claim denials. Universal healthcare removes these obstacles, ensuring that care is dictated by medical need, not corporate approval.

Countries with universal healthcare, like Norway, Japan, and Australia, consistently rank higher in health outcomes than the U.S. Japan’s hybrid system delivers high-quality care at low out-of-pocket costs, while Norway funds healthcare through taxation, ensuring equitable access. Cuba, despite limited resources, achieves impressive results through preventive care and community health initiatives. These examples prove that universal healthcare is not just about treating illness—it is about promoting long-term well-being.

The U.S. healthcare system also weakens pandemic preparedness. During COVID-19, nations with universal systems coordinated faster responses, while the U.S.’s fragmented model led to delays in testing, treatment, and vaccine distribution. In crises, a unified system ensures rapid, equitable response, whereas a privatized one prioritizes profit.

Implementing universal healthcare requires more than policy changes—it demands a cultural shift. It challenges the deeply ingrained belief that healthcare should be bought and sold like a commodity. In Taoism, wu wei describes effortless action in harmony with natural order. A just healthcare system follows this principle, ensuring care flows freely to those who need it, rather than being hoarded by those who can afford it.

THEREFORE, under Folklaw:

Healthcare shall be recognized as a universal human right. A publicly funded, single-payer system will provide comprehensive medical care to all residents, including preventive care, hospitalization, mental health services, dental and vision care, and prescription medications.

The system will be financed through progressive taxation, a Value Added Tax on luxury goods, and reinvesting private and public premiums. Private insurance for basic healthcare needs will be eliminated, while allowing supplementary private coverage for elective services.

Healthcare providers shall remain publicly and privately operated, ensuring patient choice within the universal framework. Administrative efficiency will be prioritized, reducing bureaucracy and focusing resources on patient care. Public health initiatives will promote prevention, health education, and community-based care, addressing social determinants of health.