The largest chunk of uninsured, based on a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, are "undocumented immigrants" with an estimated 5.4 million uninsured. The remainder of those who aren't able to obtain health insurance (not to be confused with health care, which any individual can obtain by going into an emergency room or free health clinic) have either a coverage gap (2.6 million) or their income is too high to obtain a subsidy (3.0 million).
Say someone experiences an adverse reaction to a vaccine (which does happen) and wants to sue the hospital; no questions asked means that the medical provider did not do a proper assessment of the patient, leaving that professional legally liable to damages.
The issue is that doing so will put millions in the insurance industry out of work. It becomes more than a public health issue, and very much so that looks to eliminate a industry that has wide power to retaliate through various strategies.
Not to mention, single payer is a quite resource intensive strategy that will require extensive capital to start versus spending now for more coverage through a program.
Because of this, single payer may never come to America through federal means.
Health and preventing health issues is not the responsibility of the government, but individual.
Sure, says who? USA takes "26 percent of gross domestic product" in taxes http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/how-do-us-taxes... , so the govt can't just take. And USA pays for liver transplants, disability and loss in productivity.
Not to mention that US made healthcare its business with Obamacare.
>>Immigrants that come into the country (legally) are required by law to have received or receive vaccinations listed by the gov't.
For $10 the Sudan (++++) authorities will give you any vaccination record the US Embassy requires
Sudan has recently experienced 15 deaths due to a botched vaccination. In countries like Sudan, workers may not be properly trained, there are less legal protections, and doctors are much more time-resource bound, leading to rushed care.
Price fixing a vaccine, versus subsidizing it, would affect thousands of private businesses and spur a flurry of changes across the health care industry, first and foremost would strike anxiety into the market, driving up prices. Resources become inefficiently allocated for the vaccine because of legal requirements, instead of pressing patient needs.
I see many people who want healthcare fixed via government monopolization, but it is my best belief that healthcare stays private, with various government subsidies, especially post-investigation of the VA scandal by the Obama administration.
Private (non-profit) healthcare has more incentive to fight fraud, specialize in pathologies, appropriately allocate resources, and most importantly, provide excellent, aboveboard care.
The idea that the government would provide 100% coverage of vaccines without fixing prices is one that people are free to argue, meanwhile I will gesticulate wildly in the direction of Medicaid.
https://www.kff.org/slideshow/public-opinion-on-prescription...
Why shouldn't USA--as in the FedGov--make such vaccines 100% free for everyone, a child or a 55 year old? An ounce of prevention and all....maybe subsidize them, pay cost only.
Personally I went to a private clinic and paid for them, but it was hundreds and hundreds. Not everyone can afford them and when you 80 million (or whatever) vaccines, the price can come down.