Winner

Gia Bessolo

Death or Debt: The Cruel Reality of Healthcare in the US

Beep, beep, beep, the constant sound of a heart monitor filled the very room I was sitting in, reminding me that I was in a hospital and not at home, lying around doing nothing. The constant smell of nothing but disinfectants, latex, and chemicals lingered in my nose. Sitting in an uncomfortable chair while staring at my iPad, playing games, and eating ice chips were among the many things distracting me from the reality of everything going on. Occasionally, I looked up at my parents, seeing them whispering close together with the doctor and my grandma, only adding more uncertainty of what was to come.

In 2017, my grandfather was rushed to the hospital due to renal and cardiac problems, which were taking a turn for the worse. Curable symptoms soon turned into emergency surgeries and tests, putting my family into an incredibly stressful time. Being 8 years old, I didn’t fully understand what was happening at the time or all the aspects that went into his hospital visit. At that age, to me, hospitals were a strange place filled with people spitting sentences full of medical terms I didn’t understand. 

I also didn’t understand what Medicare was or how it would help us. I didn’t understand the relief it was bringing me and my family, but I understand it now. Since my grandfather was over the age of 65, he was able to get access to Medicare, which covered all of his costs, taking away the added burden of financial debt that would be passed along to my grandma, a relief that not everyone in this country gets to live. 

For a great deal of Americans, access to affordable health care is not easy. Some people aren’t able to qualify for Medicare or insurance, leaving most people in a hole of debt. However, even insurance has its lacks because it doesn’t always cover the whole cost of a treatment. Some treatment costs are too high to be fully covered by insurance, leaving families questioning if they even want to receive treatment for something that could be a life-threatening symptom. This broken system leads us to the question: why is health care in the United States either death or debt?

The reluctance to receive health care due to price has brought the avoidable death percentage up in the US. According to a 2023 article published by The Commonwealth Fund written by Munira Z. Gunja, Evan D. Gumas, and Reginald D. Williams II, it explains, “Since 2015, avoidable deaths have been on the rise in the U.S., which had the highest rate in 2020 of all the countries in our analysis.” The United States has created a healthcare system where your health is decided by how much you are paid. The US forces multiple people to have to choose between saving their lives and being in debt for the rest of their lives. 

Although insurance and Medicare are forms of help when it comes to healthcare costs, they both have limitations. Medicare imposes multiple limitations due to it only being for people age 65 or older, and by having gaps in coverage, for example, no coverage for certain long-term care. Insurance also has multiple limitations, such as gaps in coverage, price, and requirements. The current healthcare system tends to deny quality care to those who need it most but cannot afford it.

In a 2003 book named Hidden Costs, Values Lost, the Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Consequences of Uninsurance found that “Uninsured people are both less likely than those with coverage to use any health services in a given year and have lower expenditures for services on average (Taylor et al., 2001)…this lower level of utilization is the source of one hidden cost of uninsurance—higher morbidity and mortality as a result of using fewer and less appropriate health care services.” There is a distinct pattern between the number of uninsured and their mortality rates, which is greatly affecting the US. 

To ensure that citizens of the United States receive necessary medical care without the risk of financial ruin, the US should adopt a universal health care system, like many other high-income countries.

The United States is a big outlier when it comes to high-income countries, as it is the only country that does not guarantee paid health care. The US has a mixed healthcare system where publicly financed government Medicare and Medicaid are options as well as privately financed market coverage, creating many problems like people being unable to afford it or losing it when they lose their job. In most other high-income countries, affordable access to health care is seen as a right rather than just an option for those who can afford it. 

According to a 2025 article on Expatica by Gary Buswell, it explains that “if you are permanently living in the UK, you will be entitled to free healthcare through the National Health Service.” The NHS is funded by taxation in the United Kingdom, and is instead a residence-based system, instead of insurance, meaning all UK residents can access medical services for free. 

Italy is also another country that has universal healthcare. Its system is named the SSN, which covers all Italian citizens and legal foreign residents. Similar to the UK system, it is mainly funded through national and regional taxes, but local health units are also funded mainly through “capitated budgets”.

Many other high-income countries carry the same systems as Italy and the UK, and it is something the US should adopt. However, people argue that if the US were to implement universal health care, it would raise the costs for taxpayers and government, but it could actually lower healthcare spending if they were to cut administrative costs, which would cancel out the increase in taxes. The costs for prescriptions and services would go down, as seen in other countries with universal healthcare. This would make the out-of-pocket costs lower for families. 

Other countries with universal healthcare also spend less per capita on medical care than the US. According to Peterson-KFF, a website looking mainly at healthcare spending, it shows the US spends $12,555 per capita on healthcare compared to the second highest, which is Switzerland, who only spends $8,049. This indicates inefficiencies in our healthcare system because, despite spending more, they do not achieve the same level of coverage as other countries, like Switzerland, who have a universal healthcare system. 

Health insurers also tend to discourage care to hold down the costs for treatments. Many health insurers decline coverage for treatments like medications, tests, and other services that are deemed appropriate by the physician. Insurance companies are not your doctors, so why let them restrict what you do for your health?

The US also may be directing its investments in healthcare to the wrong place. Investments in health care are not going to be the right thing. A 2021 article by Harvard Health Publishing highlights that “Investments in health care seem misdirected,” by explaining that the US “emphasizes technology and specialty care, overemphasizes procedures and drugs, focuses on stifling innovation, has fragmented care, and focuses on defensive medicine.” The US healthcare system prioritizes technology and specialty care over preventative medicine and universal health care, creating high costs, fragmented services, and overemphasis on procedures, which strains efficiency and accessibility.

Plenty of people are risking bankruptcy when they become severely ill. A cancer diagnosis or a sudden heart attack could send a person into a financial decline when they have no control over that aspect of life. No one should have to wake up from an emergent heart surgery and have to worry if they are going to be able to pay off their house or be able to provide for their children. 

In an article by ILR Scheinman Institute, created by Cornell University, it focuses attention on a man named George who was left in a load of debt from something that wasn’t his fault, it says “Having suffered an industrial accident, and even though his employer was responsible for his injuries and he carried health insurance, he still accumulated $20,000 in medical debt”. This shows the restrictions in medical insurance and the problems with the healthcare system. The event was something that he wasn’t planning on happening, but still, he had to pay for it literally and physically. 

Also, medical debts can outlive a patient. When a loved one passes away, their financial burdens are passed on to the next generation, creating a major problem for them if they can’t pay it off. Having to mourn a family member and figure out how to pay their debt is something no family should go through. 

In a 2025 article also published by The Commonwealth Fund, it addresses “In 2021, medical debt made up 58 percent of consumer debt on credit reports. A major reason why medical debt surpasses other types of debt is the very high cost of U.S. health care, combined with weaknesses in our health insurance system that leave many people exposed to those costs.” This shows many people are burdened by medical bills, which are created by the weakness of insurance and the high costs of care. 

The switch to the universal health care system would help save lives and reduce costs for everyone, bettering medicine. It is time for a change in this system to help improve the lives of everyone. It is time for healthcare to become a right for everyone. It has been too long that families have suffered through debts of medical bills because of a simple aspect of their life they can’t control.

Runner up:

Arden Katcha

The American Dream Is A Negotiation

My mother is the most motivated, hardworking, and successful person I know. Throughout my life, I have known her as the best environmental lawyer in the state, who ran her own law group. Her ability to lead and work in some of the hardest professions has always inspired me.

When I was around ten years old, I remember the first time my mother told me about her previous jobs. At that age, I believed that she had always worked independently, but I was wrong. She had previously had a job at another law firm based in Tampa. When I asked her what caused her to want to go on her own, she told me multiple reasons, but the one that stuck out to me was that she had found out that the male attorneys were making considerably more money than her, even though they were doing the same work. 

This, of course, has been happening to women since they joined the workforce in the 18th century. The classic tale of the fight for equality. 

The first major equality movement started in 1848 with the first Women’s Rights Convention, followed by the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment in 1869. After a 50-year fight for equal rights, the 19th Amendment was finally ratified into the Constitution, allowing women the right to vote. In 1963, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, which prohibited gender wage discrimination.

While huge strides have been made in this fight, it seems that the fire is not burning as bright as it once was because the gap decrease has slowed in the past decades. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, in 1982, the average woman was making 65% of what the average man was. In 2003, there was a huge rise of 16% to 81%, but in 2024, it only rose by 3% to 84%. That raises the question: Why did the progress slow, and why is there still a gender wage gap in 2025?

I believe that the gender pay gap still exists in 2025 due to multiple reasons, but they all have to do with not giving women the same opportunities as men. 

More recently, I talked to my mother about this topic again, but this time, I asked her why she thought she was getting paid differently, and she responded in a way that stuck with me. She told me that she saw how all the men would walk in and be able to know what their worth was and how much they should be paid, while the women were more grateful to have the job and did not negotiate for a higher salary.

This is not a one-time occurrence. A study by the American Psychological Association discovered that half of the men in the study had negotiated for their job offers and pay, compared to only one in eight women.

One reason could be that women are not being taught their worth and how much they should be making, with the idea that they should just be grateful that they have the job. A UC Davis Advance Program study found that women don’t know the value of their work and report their salary expectations anywhere from 3% to 32% lower than their male counterparts.

There are several reasons for this conclusion, it could be that women are not being taught business skills, such as negotiating for higher pay or knowing their worth. This could be because many households prioritize teaching their sons these skills and do not prioritize teaching their daughters the same.

When I followed up with my mother about my inference, she stated that she felt that was the same reasoning she had used. She then explained how her father had told her throughout her life to be grateful for the job and not to negotiate because you do not want to start trouble. She also recalled how her father would have never said those things to her younger brother and encouraged him to do the opposite.

Throughout history, women have been under pressure regarding their responsibilities in the home. From the 16th through the 18th centuries, before the equal rights movement, women were forced to stay home to care for the kids, cook, and clean, while men could go out and work to be the main providers for their homes.

Today, while some women may face those problems, women are generally free to work and provide for their families in their way. However, there is still that underlying pressure that has existed since the beginning. Since men have always been the breadwinners in society’s eyes, many women are stuck deciding between taking care of their kids and having a good, well-paying job.

This can force many women into choosing jobs that are lower in rank because they are more flexible. They can make time for their families and, in turn, work lower-paying jobs.

While the number of women in higher-paying jobs has risen over time, a study from the Pew Research Center found that 48% of women feel a great deal of pressure to focus on home responsibilities compared to only 35% of men. The number increased when they found that 67% of mothers feel that pressure compared to 45% of fathers.  

This fact is enforced by a Great Place To Work, which found that only 40% of employers and businesses offer paid parental leave. Even companies that allow employees to take paid leave sometimes offer it only to women, fueling the narrative that women should stay home and men should work.  

One argument I have heard from many men related to this topic is that since it is set in law and business owners legally cannot discriminate in pay, it must mean that if women are getting paid less, it must be their fault. My mother’s experience shows this because she learned she was getting paid less. This was technically legal since she was getting paid the minimum wage, which her lack of business skills may have caused.  

This could be a valid argument since many women choose lower-paying jobs to prioritize caring for their families. However, men need to acknowledge that they created the system that keeps women from being able to work higher-paying jobs due to the pressure to take care of the family. They also created the pressure that most women feel when in the workforce, making them feel like they cannot and should not advocate for themselves.

A study by the Pew Research Center found that the US is the only country among its 41 data countries that does not mandate paid leave, and 34 of those countries allow paid leave for fathers. In a country that endorses families having children and shames people who don’t, we sure don’t care for the family after the baby is born, but that is another essay.  

This is where the cycle begins, where women will feel the pressure to stay at home and will find a way to be able to work and help out in the home, but when they get to the office, they will be faced with discrimination and other hardships, such as harassment. Once they realize they are not getting paid as much as their male counterparts for doing the same work, they have little incentive to advocate for more pay, so they tend to shrink back into the home more.

 Another study by KFF found that women are 10 times more likely to take time off to stay home with their kids and five times more likely to take their kids to appointments. For many women, this leads to taking jobs that allow them to be more flexible, which usually forces them to take jobs with lower pay. 

This cycle has occurred multiple times throughout history. Unfortunately, it will continue if steps are not taken to allow women equal pay to men and if women are not taught basic skills necessary for the workforce, such as negotiating and knowing their worth. If this is accomplished, it will incentivize women to push for higher jobs and more equality in the home.

The American Dream, to the average person, is supposed to represent the striving and opportunity that America can bring. It is a place where everyone has opportunities and freedom, no matter what you look like or where you come from. This is simply not the truth; a woman can have equal opportunities and pay as men if their work is valued, women know their value, and negotiate their worth. 

Runner up:

Alexia Bucci

The Economic Power Behind Immigrants

Under President Donald Trump’s administration, strict immigration policies have become fierce, with his most recent orders causing fear in immigrant communities. Harsh deportation measures and attacks on birthright citizenship are a few examples of how his policies are reshaping the country. 

At the same time, Donald Trump has implemented the golden visa which allows wealthy individuals to buy their way into the country. This proves how immigration is based on financial status, ignoring the contributions to the economy provided by many low-wage immigrants. From the fields of California to the banks on Wall Street, immigrants expand industries and drive innovation. It’s time to acknowledge that immigrants don’t weaken the economy, rather they bolster it. 

The American Dream has been an opportunity for success, equality, and economic prosperity for centuries. It provides many American citizens with strong work ethics to achieve upward mobility. Immigrants come to the United States with goals to improve their lives, but do they truly achieve this dream when being portrayed as a threat to the economy by the government? 

The United States was built off of immigration, as even the Founding Fathers were immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Immigrants from other nations contributed their skills, cultures, aspirations, and search for freedom, which helped the United States thrive as a leading nation for decades. Yet, immigration is still one of the most controversial topics in American politics. Strict immigration policies will weaken the economy and take years to repair by creating labor shortages, diminishing innovation, and limiting the country’s openness to new ideas.  

Growing up in Canada, my family found that there were nowhere near as many opportunities as the United States has to offer. The United States has a thriving economy, more prominent companies, and a rewarding system for those who work hard. Many Canadians find career growth in Canada limited, but in the United States, the opportunities are infinite. 

When I was in third grade, my friend moved to New Jersey for her dad’s work. She would visit during holidays and constantly tell me how everything was faster-paced and everyone was always searching for more. I observed the change first-hand when I moved to Florida in ninth grade. The self-motivated environment and people always trying to accomplish more was something I had always dreamed of but never thought I’d witness. 

What stuck with me the most was that people came from diverse backgrounds and blended their ideas to establish a thriving community. The drive for success wasn’t just personal ambition, it was also about learning from a variety of perspectives and coming together to improve the country. Immigrants don’t just want to seek better opportunities; they create better environments and strengthen the places they move to.

Statistics show that immigrants are the driving factor behind economic growth. A study by the Migration Policy Institute shows that immigrants founded more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies. These companies not only provide jobs to many Americans but also strengthen the country’s economic competitiveness. The companies included in this list are but not limited to Google, Tesla, and eBay. Americans should accept that being open to global perspectives is essential to becoming an economic powerhouse. Despite immigrants’ substantial contributions to the economy, they continue to face restrictions on opportunity. The United States should embrace their perspectives, not attempt to abolish them. As a nation built on the values of dreams and determination, the United States should recognize that economic sustainability relies on immigrants.

Many billionaires were born outside the United States; Elon Musk was born in South Africa. With a net worth of 354.8 billion dollars and contributing $16.6 billion in economic activity through technological advancements at Tesla, Elon Musk alone represents 1.6% of the United States GDP. 

Aside from Elon Musk, the co-founder of Whatsapp, Jan Koum is an immigrant from Ukraine who moved to the United States as a teenager. His interest in programming led to his desire to develop WhatsApp. He experienced struggles with language barriers but overcame every obstacle, displaying the possible success for immigrants. In June 2025, WhatsApp was the most downloaded chat and messaging app with 57 million downloads, revealing the lasting effect of immigrant entrepreneurs. 

Despite so many influential immigrants contributing to the economy, many Americans still criticize immigration and overlook the benefits immigrants bring to the country. Their contributions extend further than agricultural labor, as demonstrated by the founders of Tesla and WhatsApp. Immigrants started 21.7% of all businesses in the United States. Combined, immigrants make about $8.6 trillion in revenue. 

Immigrants have a crucial role in maintaining the United States economy because of the industries in which they work. Many hired farmworkers are foreign-born, ensuring the stability of the country’s food supply. In addition to agriculture, immigrants make up 22% of all U.S. workers in the food services industry. Their labor keeps the supply chain complete, grocery stores fully stocked, and restaurants able to provide food. Without contributions from immigrants, labor shortages would increase food prices, harm small businesses, and burden farmers. 

The United States agriculture industry already faces challenges due to climate change, and without immigrants, it would be a complete disaster. Few young Americans choose jobs in agriculture, and the declining rural population puts more dependence on immigrants. Immigrants are a necessity for preserving the labor force and the agricultural industry.

The dairy industry estimates that removing immigrants would reduce U.S. economic output by $32.1 billion and reduce employment by 208,208 jobs. A lack of workers to supply food to 340.1 million people would be horrific to supply chains. 

Many argue that immigrants are taking jobs from American citizens and getting free funding from the government. However, a study by the Economic Policy Institute shows that immigrants make up 18.6% of the labor force, and the majority work in low-wage jobs. The claim that immigrants take jobs away from Americans contradicts the concept that they work in low-wage jobs that are often considered undesirable. In addition, immigrants pay taxes and contribute to the economy in different ways, disputing the idea that they take government resources.

Additionally, the National Immigration Law Center proves that undocumented immigrants aren’t eligible for federal programs, including but not limited to health care, nutrition, cash, and housing programs. This shows that the common belief that undocumented immigrants receive assistance from public programs is false. Instead, many undocumented immigrants face difficult working conditions, limited opportunities, and constant threats of deportation. Most contribute to the economy without receiving any benefits because of their ineligibility for federal assistance. 

The population rise because of immigration can lead to increases in consumer spending. The bigger the population, the bigger the demand is. This higher demand leads to stronger businesses and a larger supply of jobs coming from new companies, some developed by immigrants. Immigrants contribute to economic growth by increasing the labor force participation rate and lowering the unemployment rate. With a larger amount of people spending money on goods and services, the GDP grows. 

The future of the United States economy relies on immigrants. Immigrants fill unemployment, increase consumer spending, and develop companies that earn millions of dollars. By increasing the working population, they provide labor for industries that usually experience low employment, considering most Americans don’t want to work in these jobs. Immigrants also bring new innovative skills and new perspectives that lead to growth across the world. Without new perspectives, everything would stay the same, and the United States wouldn’t continue to grow. Accepting immigration not only grows the economy but also provides a prosperous future.