Community/Public Health Nursing 6th Edition by Mary Nies ,Melanie McEwen

Exercise 12

Universal health care has been a topic of interest in the United States for some time. The United States is the only developed country that does not have some form of universal health care. Although the health care reform legislation of 2010 should significantly reduce the number of uninsured individuals, it is estimated that after full implementation in 2017, there will still be about 13 million people without any health care coverage and many with inadequate coverage. Thus, universal health coverage remains an important question. Clients without health coverage have a direct impact on communities, and we should consider the following questions: How do we deal with this question What additional reforms will be necessary to resolve this question Is health care a right of all citizens These are difficult questions particularly in light of the growing problem of health care disparities in the United States.