The ethics of national health insurance: a personal essay

As the number of uninsured and underinsured American citizens increases, there is new interest in developing some sort of national health plan to ensure what many consider a basic right in industrialized countries. The debate is no longer merely between the “socialized medicine” advocates and those who believe the government should stay completely out of health care delivery. Now between those who agree that some sort of national health plan is necessary, there is conflict between the “incrementalists” and the “revolutionists,” who have differing ideas on how to best expand health care access to those without.