Summation of research on the Anglo-American health Care Policy

The Anglo-American welfare state--I have learned from researching for this seminar paper, and later writing it-- has traditionally provided aid to those in legimitate aid. It is the contention between the 'deserving poor' and the 'undeserving poor.' This is distinction that has been made since the Poor Laws of the Elizabethan era. It was thought that helping those who chose not to help themselves did not, but perpetuate idleness. Charity is best left in the hands of local authorities, or private institutions. The United States and the United Kingdom, in regards to welfare, have operated historically on the aforementioned premises.

However, the US and the UK diverge radically on health care policy. The US-- thanks in part to federalism as well the conflict between limited and positive government--is not able to construct one national policy. At best, the American people have an organizational patchwork to rely upon for health care. Working men and women can access health care through job-related benefits, e.g. health care. The elderly, the unemployed, the under aged, the disable, and those that simply cannot provide for themselves are serviced by Medicare and Medicaid. American servicemen and women are covered by the Veteran's Health Administration. Health care is, ultimately, a private enterprise in the United States. The repeated calls for reform have often falled on deaf eyes because of the fear of a big, all powerful government; an almost paradoxically fear as Americans since the Great Depression have turned to government when societal woes and calamities needed redress.

The UK--thanks to unitary statism--possesses a national health policy. The retention of power in the center, has allowed the British government historically to implement welfare policy, especially in the past century. A change in popular mentality was needed to endear Britons to universal health care. 'Social citizenship' was the underpinning of one government commission which called for an expansion of the British welfare state. Government ought to yield a benevolent hand in ensuring that all its stakeholders have the means to provide a minimum standard of living for themselves and their dependents, in addition, the government must respect their stakeholders when they find other ways to improve their lot in life. The National Health Service finds its origin in social citizenship. All Britons--through general taxation and national health insurance--have access to quality health care.

There is a divergence between the US and the UK on the matter of health care. While Americans will argue that all ought to have access to quality medicine, whether government is the solution or the problem halts any consensus on a the matter. Britons on the other hand have come to believe health care should not be tied to one's ability to pay for it, but one's need or right to it. Health care in the greater context of the Anglo-American welfare state is the exception rather than the norm.