The most obvious case for universal healthcare

I've been a lifelong fan of universal healthcare, albeit in a distant, envious way as I've never gotten to truly experience it myself. There are times where I had double healthcare coverage that came very close, and I've even gotten surgeries where all the visits and followups and even physical therapy cost me nothing. It was nice.

There are so many reasons why universal healthcare should be a baseline human need provided by the government. It's always cheaper than private insurance as the majority absorb the costs of covering all, and everyone can negotiate drug prices together. It's better for business, since small companies won't have to pay for healthcare or use health plans as a bargaining chip when hiring.

But here's the most obvious reason for it: time.

Time is our most valuable resource on this earth and until recently I never really thought about the differences between the US and other countries in terms of healthcare beyond that Americans pay more than any other country for generally terrible care here while all the other modern industrial nations pay for the healthcare of every citizen (and none of them go bankrupt trying to pay medical bills, which continues to be the number one reason for US personal bankruptcy).

Time marches ever forward and no matter how much money and power you may amass, we only have a limited amount of time on this planet during our brief lifetimes. Sure, there are weird guys who are obsessed with lifespan extension but they're fighting a losing battle.

But what if you could claw back time during your life?

Here are some illustrative graphs

These graphs make it painfully obvious that universal healthcare systems in other countries lead to longer lives.

It's free or cheap to see a doctor more often in other countries and preventative care doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Ask most Americans how often they visit a doctor and you'll likely hear about how it's only once every few years when something is really wrong, then ask any friends who live abroad and you'll hear things more like "my local doctor calls me up every few months and we do bloodwork, same day, and discuss the results over the phone an hour later."

Better healthcare equals better, longer lives. As I age into my 50s and start experiencing more friends and family passing on, time comes to mind more often.

Longer lifespans mean more time to spend with your kids and grandkids, friends and relatives. More time traveling the globe to marvel at our world. More time to create, to be social, to teach others, and to experience all the joy, pain, sadness, and happiness that life has to offer.

Canada is closest to the US in terms of similarity, and people there get nearly four additional years on this planet or over 5% longer lives than Americans. The UK, Australia and Japan increase lifespans even longer.

This is what we rob ourselves of when we bankrupt so many with private, substandard, yet expensive healthcare in America.

One last graph from the World Economic Forum

Americans live shorter lives while simultaneously paying more than any other country on earth for the privilege of decreased lifespans.

It's so far beyond obvious that this needs to change in the future.