by Caitlin Henry, MD
As family doctors, we work hard to make sure their patients are well cared for. A single-payer healthcare system, which provides equally accessible care for everyone, could be a huge boost to this mission. It could lead to better access to care, more power in the hands of patients, and less inequality, which leads to better health outcomes all around.
Right now, family doctors spend a chunk of our time dealing with heaps of paperwork and red tape from our current healthcare system. A streamlined approach provided by a single-payer system would cut down on the paperwork and make the process smoother. This means less time dealing with bureaucracy and more time focusing on patients.
Even with insurance, healthcare can be expensive. Too many patients don’t get the healthcare they need because they’re worried about the cost. In a single-payer system, the cost of healthcare isn’t dependent on your paycheck, so doctors and patients can focus more on delivering necessary treatments.
Instead of dealing with several insurance companies, doctors and healthcare providers are working together under one system. Communication improves, transitions between healthcare providers are smoother, and care becomes less fragmented. This allows for a better healthcare team which improves a patient’s overall experience.
The focus of healthcare overall needs to shift towards keeping folks healthy in the first place. The single-payer system shares these same ideas, allowing doctors to focus on prevention, accessibility, and equitable treatment which in the end helps to create a healthier and happier population.
Changing to a single-payer healthcare system makes healthcare a lot less stressful. It’s more inclusive, more focused on the patient, and can lift a hefty financial weight. Imagine not having to worry about deductibles, co-payments, and high insurance premiums and only just focusing on getting better.
It’s within our reach as family doctors to help push towards this type of system. Using their on-the-ground know-how, we can spark informed discussions and engage with policymakers to create a fairer, more patient-focused healthcare system. By making some noise and advocating for a more equal system, we could help bring about a healthcare system that works for everyone.
A native of Augusta, Kansas, Dr. Henry completed her undergraduate degree in Microbiology from the University of Kansas. She then graduated with a medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Her interests include caring for underserved populations, preventative health care, women’s health, LGBTQ+ care, and addiction medicine. In her free time, she enjoys biking, racquet sports, and listening to podcasts. She chose the University of Utah for the combination of community and academic medicine with the added bonus of being close to the mountains.
Family Medicine Vital Signs 