Healthcare is an important factor in everyone’s lives, especially with the current situation we are facing across the world. However, the way in which different countries handled this crisis varies greatly; the policy of free and/or universal healthcare impacted this significantly. Free healthcare is when “all citizens receive health care at no cost or a very minimal cost.” Universal healthcare, on the other hand, “is a health care system that provides coverage to at least 90% of citizens, typically paid for by the citizens of the country via taxes.”
       Most countries across the world have either or both of these programs whereas America does not. It is true that these kinds of programs are only possible in socialist societies and in the capitalist society that we live in, everyone pays for their own healthcare. This suggests that only those who can afford health care are going to have it, which shows it’s a privilege in this society, rather than a right. Many foreigners argue that America is seen as a place where one can obtain anything he or she wants if they are financially capable of doing so.
       The main advantage of universal healthcare is that it can give people the opportunity to afford the healthcare services they need whenever they need it. Any member of society would have this type of healthcare regarding the social status they are in. This type of healthcare can improve the health of the population since everyone will have equal access to medical care. So, it can “lead to a reduction in the amount of illness suffered by the general population.” Citizens who can’t afford their medical bills can receive free treatment without being afraid of the bills that follow. America provides neither versions of low-cost healthcare-- not even just for its citizens. Each country has varying policies on who receives these benefits, such as strictly restricted to citizens, long-time residents, or everyone in the country (including travelers). In Israel, free healthcare is ensured for all, citizens and non-citizens alike. Kenya, Thailand, Egypt, Japan are countries working together to make universal health care a reality, and the US should strive to do the same for all of its people.