In America, is access to health care a right?

Question

I wish we could come to terms with this decision.

Should access to health care be a right, which society in general must supply to all?
Or should it be an option, to be paid for individually by those who choose to have it?

to amazing: they shouldn't be thumbs-downing you. your answer was legit.
to regerrugged: I asked a straight question. You don't need to get defensive and accuse me of being "led by the nose" The question was intended to clear away the underbrush, such as "health care has always been a right".
Of course it's a right, in the sense that it is not prohibited. But everyone knows that. Is it a right in the sense that society must provide it to individuals as society must provide protection to everyone from, say, a foreign invader?

My own feeling is that it should be a right.
But I'm not really trying to convince anyone. Really, I'd only like to see this society answer this question clearly.
And I wouldn't mind if candidates for office declare which side they are on.

Answer 1

No. No no no no NO!

It's like asking if there is a right to happiness. You have a right to pursue happiness, but no one guarantees that you're going to catch it.

Same with health care. You have a right to buy health insurance to pay for health care, but you don't have a right to health care.

You do however have a right to decide that you won't buy health insurance - except in Massachusetts.

Answer 2

Yes it is a right, I have the right to the same health care as anyone, rich or poor as I am neither. I have been denied health care insurance which I was willing to pay for because I take a high blood pressure medication. The coverage was over 300 a month just for me. I have no insurance and can't get any. My husband makes around 60k a year , we are a family of 4. We would have to make like 20k a year to be eligible for assistance. But some pregnant immigrant who isn't even here legally can have coverage for her and her kids. It's bullshit this country and it's health care system. The insurance companies have entirely too much control. So all in all my family is being punished for working hard to make a decent life but the lazy people who just don't care get everything handed to them. I am starting to really dislike my county (USA) after knowing how well other countries treat there citizens, we really need to get the Bush like people out of our government before they destroy the "American Dream" even more. Signed a pissed off patriot.

Answer 3

The necessity to have automobile insurance; was important because of liabilities, etc. What happened when they mandated the necessity to have the insurance though drove up the prices for insurance.

Healthcare should not run the same way; while the idea of everyone having insurance addresses health that is important for all persons, but what will be the economic impact in regard to costs to persons who pay for their own, as well as the types of insurance available, etc.

I think everyone should have access to purchase and have healthcare, but how to go about that is another concern. The necessity for a policy that does not limt, as well as makes specialists readily available to the person, without delay, is a necessity.

Mandated managed healthcare is not the best policy. Mandated access to affordable insurance that provides for persons to acquire a policy that meets their individual and/or as well as family needs should not be compromised via any policy.

This is not skepticism provided to prevent a resolution and access to healthcare,but a serious inquiry as to the quality of the insurance policies.

Answer 4

Signh.

This is not the either/or issue the right wing keeps telling us it is.

Here's a bit of history for you: access to health care in the US has ALWAYS been regarded as a right. But--until the right wing extremists started gutting the system starting in the Reagan presidency, we had a balanced system--largely private, with public health care for those who could not afford to pay for it.

And it worked. Then, we had the best health care system in the world, bar none. Now--we are down to #41--and dropping. And have the most corrupt and bloated health care non-system in the world--onboth the public and private side.

We need reform--drastic and conprehensive. It needs to go back to that original approach. That's not socialized medicine--and its not the corrupt, commercialized mess we have now.

But--to do that we need a reformist approach and ideas from BOTH conservatives and liberals. And so far--we are getting nothing but ideological rants and political slogans from te conservative side--and as a result the socialized medicine approach is the only one that is putting forth any real policy proposals. So they're going to win by default.

Answer 5

It always comes down to the money.
We have ten billion a month to pay for a war, but at the thought of 35 billion over five years for children's health care we blench and claim poverty.
Is it a right...no.
Should we do it...yes.
Simply because we are a humane and civilized people, and the alternative is an uneven and discriminatory system that is confusing and unusable for the very people who need it most.

Other countries have some type of universal coverage in place for its people, I cannot believe that we, one of the richest nations on earth cannot provide for our ill, infants and elderly. That we would allow the young marrieds with children to endanger their health and wealth with no backup plan when insurance is unaffordable.
That we burden business with being responsible for insurance, and even they are losing patience and are dropping that as a benefit.
We need a plan, a sensible plan, so that we can hold our heads up in the world where we rank below so many countries in infant mortality and life expectancy.

Answer 6

I believe SOCIETY has an obligation to provide BASIC health care to the less fortunate...just like we already provide basic food stuffs to the less fortunate. And indeed, basic health care is available to everyone today. So, the question becomes what is basic health care? Too many people seem to think it is EVERYTHING that medicine has to offer. Just like I wouldn't expect society to provide a five-course steak dinner to the poor, I don't think we should expect it to provide the health care equivalent of a steak dinner to everyone.

Answer 7

Is it a right?
Apparently not because a lot of people do not have access.
Is it smart?
I think it is.
Healthy population more productive than unhealthy population.
The kids that don't have access to health care could grow up to be unhealthy adults.
What kind of cold blooded society would deny health care to kids?

Answer 8

unfortunately we'd be the only country that would have to pay for universal. why do you think the dems love mandatory health care? they look good saying they've taken care of the downtrodden and force the cost on us whether we want it or not or can even afford it. while our elected officials get to keep having it for FREE. corporate, luxury, alcohol and tobacco taxes can pay for all of it. without lowering quality of service.

Answer 9

IT SHOULD BE,but the people in power would rather make it a polictical issue then do something about it. Besides if medical is aright than how can the medical and insurance companies keep getting filthy rich.

Answer 10

Try not to mix the concepts of health care and health insurance. You may be confusing yourself.

In the US everyone has access to health care. What is at issue is how it is paid for. Some people have insurance, some don't. Some are eligible for government assistance.

Access to health care is not a right. It is private enterprise. I fear that you are being led around by the nose, by Democrats, on this issue.