Final answer:
The lack of universal health insurance in the U.S. is a public health threat, and government intervention is necessary. The U.S. faces challenges in its healthcare system regarding cost control and accessibility, unlike other high-income countries with more government involvement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lack of universal health insurance in the U.S. does pose a public health threat, as individuals without health insurance may avoid seeking medical care due to cost, potentially leading to worse health outcomes at the individual level and implications for public health at large. Undoubtedly, government intervention plays a crucial role. Programs such as Medicare and Medicaid show the government's commitment to addressing the needs of specific populations.
In an international context, the U.S. system's private nature is unique, and this contributes to a set of challenges, including moral hazard and adverse selection problems in the health insurance market. Most other high-income countries have greater government involvement in health insurance provision, which can help mitigate these issues.