Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing Related

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In February 2010, Congress passed legislation to support universal health care for all Americans. At a local health fair, an individual asks about the difference between universal health care and a single payer system. The nurse explains the difference is that:

  • A. with universal health, one universal payer, usually the government, pays all expenses for health care.
  • B. single-payer systems offer health care only to eligible persons based on income.
  • C. single-payer systems rely on insurance companies to pay predetermined fees for services.
  • D. with universal health, one payer is responsible for all health care costs, providing health care to all citizens.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because in a universal health care system, one universal payer (often the government) is responsible for covering all health care expenses for all citizens. This means that everyone, regardless of income or eligibility, is covered under the same system.

Choice B is incorrect because a single-payer system does not necessarily limit health care access based on income; it simply means there is one entity responsible for paying health care costs.

Choice C is incorrect because single-payer systems do not rely on insurance companies to pay fees; instead, the single payer itself covers the costs directly.

Choice D is incorrect because it does not specify that the one payer in a universal health care system is usually the government, which is a key distinction in this context.