Government health care vs private health care - Essay Example

Government Health Care Vs Private Health Care Government Health Care Vs Private Health Care Over the years a debate has seen to be arisen with regard to the choice between government health care and private health care. A News Poll in the Wall Street journal showed that 76% of the respondents were of the view that they are given the choice to choose between a private or a public health plan. Moreover another poll in the CBS News Poll showed that 85% of the respondents wanted some major reforms in the health sector (Why We Need a Public Health-Care Plan, 2009).

The argument between private and public health care has always stayed in peoples conversations. Over the years people have argued for both the private health care sector and the public health care sector stating the advantages and the disadvantages of each side. A private health care or private medicine is a health care or medicine that is funded and provided by entities other than the government, they are privately run by companies or personals. People have mainly argued for private health care mainly because it’s based on basic economic principles like supply, demand and a competitive market.

No private health firm could charge you more than the other firms due to the competitive nature of market in which they operate. Secondly due to the competitive nature patients receive fast and high quality treatment as private facilities often are in competition with other facilities, this characteristic of private health facilities makes it convenient for patients and often prove life saving. The author talks about what Ken Dallafior, senior vice president of group sales and corporate marketing, at Detroit-based Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, had to say “If youre in an industry that is highly competitive in terms of recruiting and maintaining talent, you have better control of the process and the plans that are offered to employees, which can affect your talent objectives,” (Banham, 2013).

Private health care facilities offer a large pool of specialists and hospitals, so the patients have a choice of who they want to go to for treatment. Looking at large private health care facilities also helps remove a big burden off the backs of the government; it reduces government spending on the health sector. Although this kind of medical health care proves very beneficial for the public, private health facilities are often very expensive and majority of the public is unable to attain such facilities and they revert back to public health care.

A public health care facility is one that is funded by the government so that all public could avail health facilities at a low cost. Due to easy accessibility and low in public health care people are more likely to visit a doctor leading to preventive measures as well as early diagnosis of diseases saving a lot of lives. Also people with cannot afford health insurances can be treated in public health care facilities. Public facilities cater to a large group of public and unlike private facilities there is a long waiting list in public hospitals.

Since there is no competition the environment of public medical facilities are not as good as the ones a person would see in a private facility. Although public health care may seem cheap and affordable; since it is paid for by the government it would not actually be free as everyone will get taxed for it. (Pros and Cons: Free public health care, 2009). Since such kinds of facilities are funded by government they may contain specialized treatments or procedures that may have been very costly for private facilities to afford.

Unlike private facilities less specialized doctors enter the public field of health care.Public health care and private health care are both essential parts of our society. None of the both prove to be totally beneficial for the public or government. There are groups of people who would prefer public health care facility or vice versa depending on their needs and affordability. Works CitedWhy We Need a Public Health-Care Plan. (2009, June 24). Retrieved April 24, 2013, from The Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124580516633344953.

htmlPros and Cons: Free public health care. (2009, July 31). Retrieved April 24, 2013, from 26 Magazine: http://www.26magazine.com/pros-and-cons-free-public-health-care/Banham, R. (2013, April 24). The Pros and Cons of Private Health Insurance Exchange. Retrieved April 24, 2013, from Business Insurance: http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/99999999/NEWS030103/120429897?tags=|332|62|278|342#full_story