Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane”. America's healthcare system has been one of the most controversial in the entire world, with thousands of perplexingly disastrous stories arising each year. One such story, reported by Truthout, involved 20-year-old Sarah Broughton’s tragic sinus infection. Due to California’s ineffective and disorganized Medicaid system, Sarah’s application for medical coverage was never approved. Unfortunately, because of the egregious costs associated with primary care, Sarah ignored the pain even as it worsened. Once she finally decided to go to the ER, she received the hapless news: the infection had spread to her brain, causing fatal damage. Sarah’s story is just a drop in the vast ocean of American healthcare failures over the past years. How many more Sarahs must there be before America, the leader in the global society, realizes the importance of healthcare? It is preposterous that America, a nation based on fundamental rights, fails to recognize the right to quality healthcare. America’s negligence towards healthcare is inexcusable; the insurance costs are exorbitant, the access to quality care is dwindling, and the Amenable Mortality Rate (deaths preventable by effective and timely care) is poor. However, America can change. Change, for the sake of change, is ineffective; but, change for the sake of society can benefit the people. It is high time that America changes its healthcare system. The chief way to do this is to learn and adapt the strengths of various healthcare systems and implement them into this flawed institution. 

Regarded as the world’s finest healthcare system, Switzerland offers many incentives for its citizens. One of the prime characteristics of Switzerland’s healthcare system is its universal health coverage (UHC). The UHC of Switzerland, which is regulated by Swiss law, allows each citizen to have access to high-quality healthcare while paying comparatively low premiums. Alongside UHC, basic insurance is mandatory and fully covered. Essentially, even in private healthcare providers, profit is not allowed on basic insurance plans. In doing so, Switzerland provides a basic service necessary for its citizens without much possibility of corruption. Lastly, one of the more generous aspects of the Swiss healthcare system is that the government offers subsidies to help people pay off their insurance premiums. These subsidies are given when the insurance premiums exceed 8% of their income. This incredibly altruistic policy alleviates potential problems for middle/lower class families and makes healthcare an affordable and realistic option. All in all, there is much to be desired from American healthcare, giving America all the reasons in the world to borrow aspects of Switzerland’s stellar healthcare. 

Notorious for its unique structuring, Swedish healthcare offers another outlet for potential ways America can improve its healthcare system. Due to its localized focus on healthcare, Sweden allows each of its counties to tailor the system to its own needs. This county-specific focus allows the Swedish people to design a healthcare policy that accurately reflects their communities and demographic needs. In addition, because Swedish healthcare is universal, citizens have access to a tailored healthcare system at a reasonable price. Because of the popularity of regionalization, private healthcare is scarce; this is important as profit is not a factor in the Swedish healthcare system, leading to rare additional costs. As illustrated, Sweden’s healthcare system is filled with noteworthy characteristics, making it a true maverick in healthcare. Whether it's the regionalization or the UHC, Sweden prioritizes healthcare and the well-being of its citizens. Therefore, Sweden is a prime candidate to be studied if America chooses to refine its healthcare system. 

The last healthcare mentioned in this article is that of a close neighbor, Canada. Outside of UHC, a prominent staple of many successful healthcare systems, Canada offers much to be desired. Unlike most others, Canadian healthcare offers equitable care: the disparity between rural and urban healthcare is indistinguishable. This ensures each citizen receives high-quality healthcare regardless of their background, demographics, etc. Additionally, the Canadian Government moderates the quantity at which insurance providers are allowed to charge. Because of this, the out-of-pocket costs associated with Canadian healthcare are much easier to cover compared to American healthcare. According to GAO, in 2020, Anoro Ellipta Inhalation Power drugs costed $248 in America while only $76 in Canada. This stark contrast accurately portrays the differences between healthcare centered around profit and one centered around its people. Canada, one of America’s closest allies, has established a beloved healthcare system while America’s is plagued with controversy and corruption. Observing Canada's success, America should look to new healthcare reforms targeting the well-being of the American people. 

Ultimately, healthcare is a fundamental right guaranteed to all people regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, income, etc. Providing inadequate healthcare is disrespectful to America’s foundation, the Constitution. According to KFF, almost half of all American adults have reported having difficulty affording healthcare. Each year, thousands of cases similar to Sarah Broughton pile up. Yet, no change has taken place. If America truly represents the ideals of democracy, it's time for action. Day by day, month by month, year by year, the struggle to improve American healthcare will persist. However, once America reaches the apex, the struggle will have been worth it. American healthcare will no longer reflect values of profit, but rather values of democracy.