Our current healthcare system is fundamentally flawed. The number one reason Americans declare bankruptcy is medical expenses. It may be easier to point at those Americans and say, “Well, why didn’t you plan better,” than to attempt to change a system that plainly does not work. But that isn’t productive.

Our country spends more per person on healthcare than almost any other nation, yet also has some of the worst healthcare outcomes of any first world country. Why is that? Well, we could blame laziness: overeating, under-exercising, poor nutritional status. But again, that’s the easy route.

In reality, our system punishes preventative care (you need insurance to go to the doctor unless you can afford to pay out-of-pocket, which many cannot; co-pays; extraordinarily expensive drugs which many healthcare plans simply won’t help cover), so that when one notices a small issue, be it an unusual lump or rash, it isn’t worth the money and time off work and finding childcare to go see a doctor about it on the off chance that it might prevent a more serious issue in the future.

In countries where monthly insurance payments aren’t crippling and visiting the doctor for preventative care is feasible, there are better health outcomes, ensuring a healthier, more productive workforce and parents who won’t fret over when they can afford to seek care for their children.

It’s unfortunate that the idea of universal or single-payer healthcare is frightening to some, while in countries where this is the reality, becoming sick isn’t a financial death warrant that affects not only you, but also your family members.

Perhaps it’s just me, but I think it’s time for a change. The ACA was a sad Band-Aid of an attempt to fix this issue, but a Band-Aid won’t heal a broken system.