Health Care and the Middle Class

Who, What, Where, and Why?

Currently one of the most talked about political controversies of the time is centered

around the topic that affects all of the people in this country; affordable health care. It’s benefits

are largely questioned by those who do not receive as many advantages through its affordability,

particularly the middle class. The case can be made that the moral and logistical explanations

regarding this subject prove the

point that the nation is not

benefiting from the declining socio

economic aspects the middle class

is faced with when regarding these

policies.

The cost of healthcare as well as

the moral situations many are faced

with are undeniably one of the biggest issues when regarding this topic. Many feel as though the

institution of healthcare should not be based on individual policies but provided as a standard by

the government. However, one cannot realistically seek sanctuary in a government that has no

means of providing such a foundation. Health care, while morally ​should​ be an accessible right,

no matter the cost, most simply is not. In allowing the government to control an aspect of

intimacy in daily lives, it also allows restrictions in order to cut costs and ensure its citizens are

using less of the expensive, government funded resources. Furthermore, there becomes a
discrepancy between responsibility and the unrealistic idea that one deserves something without

a mutual partnership. For as much as everyone would like to believe that free health care is

beneficial, the reality is that the government is permitting citizens to conceptualize an idea that

cannot sustain itself alone. There is a cost to all services, and sacrificing personal freedoms is not

worth the government’s involvement.

Understanding the Logistics of Middle Class America’s Involvement

The foundation of the American government is meant to uphold the standard of ensuring

that majority does not always rule. This however, has lost the popularity amongst those who are

affected most by its lack of service towards the majority. According to Pew Research Center,

fifty percent of American citizens earn middle class wages. Because 50 percent of Americans are

middle class and the remaining can be divided between the upper class and lower class, the

middle class American claims the majority. If the

government is working to please less than the

majority, making it nearly impossible for most

citizens to afford health care, questions regarding

the merit of the so called equality amongst classes

seems a fair response. Affordable health care cannot come at the cost of the many in order to

support the few. The current healthcare situation has actively increased health care prices,

making it unaffordable to those on the lower end of the middle class, as well as incorporating

more economic issues into American society (Pew Research Center).

 Why Prices Are Skyrocketing

The source of the rise in medical care costs can be traced backed to the end of World War

II, where health care costs began to skyrocket with the formation of state level legislations

allowing pre payment plans and tax exempt policies (Accad).While the increased prices have

continually grown, the ratio between affordability and standard income is becoming a smaller

and smaller gap. Currently, an individual living on $24,000 a year qualifies as middle class (Pew

Research Center), yet with skyrocketing premiums and largely increased deductibles, the

actuality of having ‘affordable’ health care is beyond realistic . Many of the rising costs in health

care can be accredited to doctors making examinations and running tests that the patient does not

necessarily need. The result of this can be an increased charge to health insurance, ultimately

leading to an addition to deductible rates that consumers have to pay. Furthermore, there are near

monopolies on many of the new technologies and drugs being developed and produced in the

United States and because of the increased technology, the

price has also increased. While many patients feel as

though they are being taken care of best when their doctor

runs every test in the book, the actuality of the situation is

that doctors are paid on a fee-for service system; meaning

that they are often times running too many tests on their patients. The summation of all of these

factors are driving medical insurances prices continually upwards.

Where the Middle Class Currently Stands

Furthermore, the two comparisons in socio economic status argue that considerable

measures have been taken to further remove the middle class from the equation and place them
below the equality standard upheld for those in the lowest economic class. In doing so there

becomes a problem with the ability of economic freedom permitted to those who are contributing

to the fundamental economic makeup of the country. With this increasing wealth gap, middle

class citizens are becoming apart of the income trends regarding the large gap between the upper

class and the middle class. Thus proving that the affordability of medical health care is making a

substantial wedge in this issue.

Conclusively, middle class Americans are among the most affected when

considering the rising cost of health insurance. One can determine this through the

viable argument of moral and logical appeals and with this information, the actuality

and severity of the situation regarding middle class citizens and how this is affecting the

American nation on a whole.

 Works Cited

Accad, Michael. “Why Health Care Costs Exploded After World War II | Michel Accad.” ​Mises

Institute​, 9 June 2016, mises.org/wire/why-health-care-costs-exploded-after-world-war-ii.

“The American Middle Class Is Losing Ground.” ​Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic

Trends Project​, 9 Dec. 2015,

www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/12/09/the-american-middle-class-is-losing-ground/.

Scutti, Susan. “4 Reasons Why US Health Care Is so Expensive.” ​CNN​, Cable News Network, 7

Nov. 2017, www.cnn.com/2017/11/07/health/health-care-spending-study/index.html.

“Who Is 'Middle Income' and 'Upper Income' in 2014?” ​Pew Research Center's Social &

Demographic Trends Project​, 9 May 2016,

www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/05/11/americas-shrinking-middle-class-a-close-look-at-c

hanges-within-metropolitan-areas/st_2016-05-12_middle-class-geo-03/.