The costs of medical health care are increasing all the time. Governments   are finding it difficult to balance the health care budget.

　　Should citizens be totally responsible for their own health costs and take   out private health insurance, or is it better to have a comprehensive health   care system which provides free health services for all? Discuss.

　　Model Answer:

　　A much debated issue these days is whether citizens should take out private   health insurance or not. The cost of providing free medical care for both the   wealthy and the poor is far too great for any government, and most people agree   that if you can pay for insurance, you should. In this essay, I will argue that   all who can afford it should be insured, but free medical care must be made   available for those too poor to do so.

　　The most important reason for encouraging people to take out private health   insurance is the cost to the government of health care. Free health cover for   people who are able to pay for it is a waste of public money. Of course, people   will only pay health insurance premiums if they know that they are getting good   value for their money. If they get sick, they should pay very little or nothing   at all. In addition, the privately insured are entitled to special benefits such   as having the choice of their own doctors, and being able to avoid long waiting   lists for hospital beds.

　　On the other hand, those who really cannot afford to pay private insurance   premiums, which are often very high, are still entitled as citizens to the best   medical care available – they cannot be expected to pay their own medical bills.   However, if they are working, they should still pay a percentage of their wage   (say 1 to 2%) as a tax which pays towards the cost of providing "free" medical   services.

　　In conclusion, most people should privately insure their health, but it is   unreasonable to suppose that all citizens can afford it. Therefore, a safety net   in the form of a basic free health care system must exist for the very poor and   the unemployed.