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Investigating Health Care

Students investigate health care in the United States and internationally to determine whether or not the United States government should provide Universal Health Care coverage.

Introduction

Many Americans believe that the government should ensure that everyone receives adequate health care. Others think that health care is a private responsibility. This is a debate that our society has been arguing since the time of Theodore Roosevelt. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law Medicare and Medicaid. In 1995, Congress debated changes to those programs.

Some analysts believe that the United States annual health care bill will soar to $1.7 trillion dollars by the year 2000, and approximately 37 million Americans do not receive adequate health care. The United States is one of the only industrialized countries that does not guarantee health care for all of its citizens. But guaranteeing health coverage for all Americans is expensive and costly. Almost 80% of the population is covered by insurance, and the people who are not might better be served by more competition in the health care industry.

In this investigation, you will fill the role of a member of the House of Representatives. You have been elected by your district and one of the most important issues that you campaigned on was Universal Health Care. After research the American health care situation and international models, you will be bringing your ideas to the House Subcommittee on Health Care. What you present to the subcommittee will represent the best solution for health care in the United States.

In order to complete this investigation and assignment, you must complete the following tasks. You should utilize online resources and other materials (textbook, public library, oral histories, etc...) as necessary to access information.

1. Research and investigate the following questions. Prepare notes on what information you find to answer the questions.

• What is the history of government sponsored health care in the United States?
• What and how is Universal Health Care a factor internationally?
• What are the major issues in the debate over Universal Health Care in the United States?
• What has been proposed in the past and is currently being proposed to reform health care?
• Who are key figures and organizations involved with health care and health care reform in the United States?

2. Prepare a presentation to the House Subcommittee on Health Care which clarly states the best solutions for solving America's health care situation.

• Prepare a persuasive opinion essay explaining what you feel the problems are and what your solution is. Explain your solution and describe the costs and effects of it. Also, explain what you feel is the federal governments obligation to older, disabled, and low-income Americans.
• Prepare visuals to support your presentation. Include statistics supporting your theories.

Utilize the following online resources in order to complete the assigned investigation and tasks. Students are encouraged to locate other resources at the library or on the Internet.

• The Plea of a Nation: Public Health Care
• Health Access Web Action Report
• A Patient's Bill of Rights
• Physicians for National Health Care Website
• Universal Health Coverage: The Cure or the Disease
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• The Universal Health Care Plan
• Libertarian Articles Against Socialized Medicine
• Socialized Medicine versus Private Health Care

It has become claer that health care is one of the most important issues that needs to be dealth with by our government. As citizens it is important that we are aware of all arguments surrounding the issue. In this webquest, you have explored the issue of Universal Health Care and learned about current programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Your opinions and decisions concerning this sensitive issue show that you understand the arguments and concerns on all sides of the issue.