Outline Template
I. Introduction
a. Access to heath care is argued by many to be a universal right. This is an ethical question and is extremely debated in todays climate.
Thesis statement: Access to health care is far from equitable in this country and is ethically questionable because of it.
The price paid for this limited access to healthcare services is great, both for the uninsured themselves and for the communities in which they live. An estimated 18,000 premature deaths occur each year because of the many uninsured individuals.
II. Body Paragraph 1 – Technical aspects of your topic
a. Topic Sentence: Socio economic status plays the largest role in healthcare access.
i. Supporting detail 1: Nearly 15% of Americans are without any kind of health care insurance or access. In 2002, almost 85% of the US population reported having healthcare insurance coverage from employer based insurance (55%), Medicaid, other means-tested programs (17%), or Medicare (13%). The remaining 15% of the population had no health insurance coverage of any type.
ii. Supporting detail 2: Age and poverty combined change these rates as well. Everyone between the ages of 18 and 64 years, the rate of those uninsured was higher than for the young or elderly (13.5%-30%). For those in poverty, the chances of being uninsured increased to between 30% and 60%.
iii. Supporting detail 3: More than 30% of those at or below the poverty level had no insurance coverage. This a rate that is double that for the total population. Those that were just over the poverty line are not much better, with almost 28% of those between 100% and 125% of the poverty level having no insurance coverage.
III. Body Paragraph 2 – Description of public policy debates surrounding your topic
a. Transition: Of course socio economic status is not the only limiting factor
b. Topic Sentence: when speaking of economic limitations the subject of race has to be explored as well. Race is another factor that profoundly influences insurance coverage.
i. Supporting detail 1: In 2002, Hispanic and black Americans fared the worst, with 32% and 20%, respectively, not having health insurance. White and Asian Americans were less likely to be without coverage, with rates of 14% and 18%, respectively. However, poor whites and poor Asian Americans were twice as likely (at rates of 31% and 38%) to lack coverage as these groups as a whole.
ii. Supporting detail 2: Blacks and Hispanics show increased uninsured rates of 26% and 43%.
iii. Supporting detail 3: Being foreign born can also effect the rates of insurance and access to health care. Foreign-born status alone almost tripled one’s chances of being uninsured (13% for native-born and 33% for foreign-born Americans).
IV. Body Paragraph 3 -Arguments
a. Transition: Although persons without insurance have some ability to obtain healthcare, in reality, the uninsured are more likely to have no regular source of healthcare.
i. Supporting detail 1: the risk of death for uninsured women with a diagnosis of breast cancer is 30% to 50% greater than for women with breast cancer who are insured.
ii. Supporting detail 2: Uninsured adults have a 25% greater chance of dying for same illnesses as adults with insurance.
V. Opinion and Conclusion
a. Transition: Access to heath care should be affordable and available to all. It is unethical to live in the most powerful country in the world with medical technology ever advancing and no be able to take care of the people.
b. Statement of Opinion: Medical professionals go about their day giving little thought to this issue. Questions of just and fair access to health care should be considered and brought to the forefront of medical ethics in the future.