Few articles in the professional counseling literature address the healthcare crisis. This paper examines the current state of the United States healthcare affairs. Topics discussed include the problems in healthcare, including an inspection of the uninsured, the underinsured, rising healthcare costs, and the growing inequality in the healthcare system. Since many countries with national healthcare systems view healthcare as a right, examples of national healthcare systems world wide are offered, with overviews of systems in Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Canada, Japan, and elsewhere. Next, the various attempts to change the U.S. system, including information on state plans, previous proposals for national healthcare reform, and some of the current plans for reform, such as national health insurance, single payer plans, a national health service, managed competition, various health acts, and other recommendations. The variety of possibilities have created many opponents and proponents of national healthcare plans are examined. These persons' views are evaluated along with an outline of actions deemed necessary in healthcare reform. Counselors must become involved in the debate by responding to social and public policy in a more organized fashion, by lobbying for progressive healthcare reforms, and by working in conjunction with other mental health providers. (Contains over 300 references.) (RJM)