Is good health care a right or a privilege?

Answer 1

It depends on where you live. Countries with national / socialized / universal health care systems generally regard it as a right that comes with citizenship. Countries without such systems regard health care as a privilege or regard it as something that a government should not be directly involved in providing to all of its citizens.

Answer 2

If you look at the global picture, one is privileged to have the right to the best treatment available. No one should (right) be sent to the second best treatment if the best treatment is available.

Socialized and Private health insurance is the same thing, only differing with the numbers of the clients.

Certainly there is no "free" healthcare, but not taking care of health issues would cost more, even in plain old money, if one thinks of the people who have to retire early. It damages the economy as well as the coffers of the welfare system.

If you begrudge that someone who needs surgery is costing you money, just think about how much he'd be costing you if he weren't able to return to the workforce at all.

Answer 3

I'm not sure It's either. You have to pay for it like anything else. Even for those who don't have health care it doesn't come free. Someone, somewhere pays for it. If a hospital or a doctor writes it off, then they in effect have paid for it. And this applies to health care in general whether it's good or bad.

Answer 4

The governmental philosophers will argue this one, but I think the correct answer is "privilege." Otherwise, there would be no such thing as private health insurance.

Answer 5

Privilege--nowhere in the Constitution is the government authorized to tinker with it in any fashion. However, Americans, having ALWAYS been number one in charity, both foreign and domestic, (read Who Really Cares? by Arthur Brooks for FACTS), have NEVER left the truly needy just dying BEFORE "managed care" and the government moved in on doctors who were NEVER proven to be overcharging patients.

With all the bogus "health care" programs out there, too many falsely believe everyone can get proper care in the US. We pay too much for Medicaid, Medicare, SCHIP, IHS, etc. and the "beneficiaries" get RATIONED care and with Medicare jacked up premiums ($43.80 in 1998, $96.40 in 2008 and LESS coverage in many cases when we examine benefits then v now, esp. with HMOs which are supposed to be so "cost effective.")

When doctors are left to manage their own profession, preferably without the INTERFERENCE of the government's micromanaging AND the bullying of the handful of insurers left, you get REAL health care. Check out things like:

the price of LASIK

the price of plastic surgery for looks alone

http://www.simplecare.com/

http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/0923gr-erhospital0923Z12.html

Sensible plan?
Read the PDF here:
http://www.booklocker.com/books/3068.html

Answer 6

According to Medi-cal and Medi-caid its America's responsibility to give healthcare to any living creature that enters this country. It's a privilege, it costs, that's why it comes out of my D*mn paycheck but instead of me using it everyone else sucks off my 8hrs a day.

Answer 7

You have the right to pay for the best health care you can afford.

Answer 8

Its not a right....but the arguement can easily be made that a society has the responsibility to provide it

Answer 9

It's a right. But that doesn't include the right to make others (including taxpayers) pay for or supply it.

Answer 10

Privilege - but don't tell hillary.