Does every citizen have the right to have access to basic health care in the richest country in the world? The current U.S. health care system has many inequalities in access, quality, and cost of health care among different economic groups of people. Additionally, it would be more beneficial to give citizens access to preventative care that could avoid health problems by treating them at an early stage, while they are still manageable. Siegfried Karsten (1995), professor of economics at West Georgia College, makes a valid point in the American Journal of Economics and Sociology when he questions whether "society can really afford not to cover everyone...is is it economically and politically rational? continue to see millions of people develop serious health problems, at a very high cost to society… because they are financially unable to obtain necessary medical care when it does them the most good? (p.138). The cost of health care in the United States is a deterrent for low-income groups who cannot afford insurance, or even if they have insurance, are hesitant to seek care due to deductibles and co-pays . Canadians do not pay co-pays for primary care visits. This is a factor encouraging all citizens, regardless of their social status, to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Interestingly, there are not many differences between survival rates in Canada and the United States for middle and high income groups.,