Past Event

Café Society: Universal Health Care in the U.S.?

“U.S. spending on health care has grown from $246 billion in 1980 to $1.7 trillion today. At the same time, the number of uninsured Americans has increased by 5 million over the past decade.” – The Century Foundation, a public policy think tank

As health care costs and the number of uninsured and underinsured has continued to rise, fear and discontent has escalated for many people in the U.S. Early in April, Massachusetts enacted legislation that would make it the first state to require health insurance for all residents. The passage of this bipartisan bill thrust the issue of universal health care back into the public eye and has given hope to many advocates.

What role should the government play in providing our health care? Who is responsible for those without adequate insurance: the federal or state government, employers?

Many support the concept of universal coverage but does the general public consider health care to be a fundamental human right? Are individuals willing to pay more in state or federal taxes to assure adequate coverage for everyone? What other factors, such as consumer choice and impact on access, influence support for this issue?

Join us at Café Society to share your thoughts about the future of your health care.

Additionally in May, we are hosting a series of community conversations entitled,”How Do We Think of Health as a Human Right?“.

This Week’s Suggested Readings:

For more informaiton, please contact Kristin Millikan at 312.422.5580.