The Needs of the 0.8%
Here in the United States we have about 2.6 million people without access to medical care paid by
either a healthcare insurer or some government agency (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) Their options are limited: (a) pay out of pocket, (b) find a charity providing healthcare, or (c) find a hospital that accepts Medicare and Medicaid patients and must, thereby, accept patients regardless of their ability to pay for services rendered. Most of these 2.6 million are without means to pay out-of-pocket.
While 2.6 million is a large number of people, it only represents eight tenths of one percent (0.8%) of our total US population of 319 million.
Can the 99.2% of the population who do have a means of obtaining healthcare not step forward with charity to provide for the 0.8% without it? Can the churches -- that pay zero taxes -- not be more charitable to this 0.8%? Can charitable foundations not pool a portion of their annual endowments to provide for the needs of the 0.8%?
Or must we shut our eyes and ears to the 0.8% and let the government, with all its attendant bureaucracy, red tape and inefficiency, find a more expensive way provide for them that doesn't require the citizens' direct involvement?
If we opt to depend on the government to provide for them, shame on us. We have so many better options.
either a healthcare insurer or some government agency (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) Their options are limited: (a) pay out of pocket, (b) find a charity providing healthcare, or (c) find a hospital that accepts Medicare and Medicaid patients and must, thereby, accept patients regardless of their ability to pay for services rendered. Most of these 2.6 million are without means to pay out-of-pocket.
While 2.6 million is a large number of people, it only represents eight tenths of one percent (0.8%) of our total US population of 319 million.
Can the 99.2% of the population who do have a means of obtaining healthcare not step forward with charity to provide for the 0.8% without it? Can the churches -- that pay zero taxes -- not be more charitable to this 0.8%? Can charitable foundations not pool a portion of their annual endowments to provide for the needs of the 0.8%?
Or must we shut our eyes and ears to the 0.8% and let the government, with all its attendant bureaucracy, red tape and inefficiency, find a more expensive way provide for them that doesn't require the citizens' direct involvement?
If we opt to depend on the government to provide for them, shame on us. We have so many better options.
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