Health care in America- Should it be a right or privilege and why?

Question

I need really good resources to look up information on this topic Please help!!

Answer 1

It should be a right. Every First World country has some form of socialized preventive medical care, except the US. The only thing vaguely socialized here is the right to get emergency care, but at great costs to public hospitals and the system. We pay more than twice per capita (per person) compared to other First Worlds, in terms of medical spending. Sure, other countries spend some in taxes, but we still spend more out of pocket. Plus, these other countries have progressive taxes so the rich pay higher rates of taxes rather than the less well off.

These are points you could research. I would just search things like "comparing health care systems" or something of this sort. Remember, there are different universal health care ideas. Obama and Clinton's proposals are poor notions, where insurance companies--the profit motive--stays intact. People are just required to get it like car insurance, but who knows how affordable it will be. A single-payer system is the best one and disposes of the profit motive behind people's health care. I would definitely watch the movie "Sicko" and use that as a source if you could. Also check the federation of nurses or some such group that advocates single-payer system.

Answer 2

A right. It is not fair that you can only have proper health care if you make enough money. I am a paralegal and do not make enough money, and I work my a** off. My money goes towards car insurance, and college.

Furthermore, why should the CHILDREN of this country have to suffer because of (or lack thereof) their parents' occupations? And pre-existing conditions are not supported by the government. I have bipolar disorder and anxiety, and the government does not pay for my meds. Children, whether they have cancer, broke their arm, or come down with the flu, should be entitled to health care despite what their parents make - they can't work for themselves.

Answer 3

I already pay enough taxes that go to lazy people.  It is not a right, get an education, find a job and stop expecting others to pay.  If it wasn't for liberals, health care in America would be cheaper.  Because the left decided that health care is a legal right for illegal aliens (but not American Citizens), the price has soared.  So, when you need health care, you're costs include all the illegals that got it free (free doesn't really mean free - some taxpayer and citizen pays for it).

Its a simple process for anyone who wants Universal Health care, buy a one way ticket to a communist / marxist county of your choice.  Being free to leave whenever you want is the wonderful thing about America, if you want marxism, you're free to leave.

Rated 37th in the world???  By who, the pro-communist UN? For all you believers in socialism/marxism, why do people that live in "nanny" third world countries, that have money, all come to the United States for their health care when they need real care.  According to the left, shouldn't they be going to Cuba, Russia or some other marxist nation?

Answer 4

It should be a right.  The US is the only civilized western country that does not have guaranteed medical care as a basic right of the people.

Answer 5

It should be a right, no matter what you have or who you are, if you look at the posts against this you will notice that all they are bothered about is themselves and how much it is going cost them, it is no wonder that people from other countries see Americans as being self centered and greedy, most don't care about the common good and stability of the country just about number 1.



If any of these people bothered to look further than their own  selfish needs they would see that probably most of the 47 million un -insured are working and are usually self employed.

37th in the world on health care with Costa Rica and Morroco above you is nothing to brag about more like shamefull in this very rich country!!!

GT, Why do you assume that everyone who can not afford medical insurance is lazy, eveyone I know that has no medical cover is either employed or working for themselves and pay taxes, and your other assumption that the world healthcare organisation which is part of the UN is pro - communist just shows how ignorant you really are, you don't like what is being said so the excuse is that they are anti American, what purpose would it have to distort the facts?

You also assume that all these countries that provide healthcare for all are marxist, this just shows that you know nothing about the outside world, FYI Russia is now a free market economy, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Italy just to name a few are all free market economies, just because they have some socialist ideals does not make them marxist, it just means a fairer society and to make sure that human beings are treated as such no matter how much or little money they have.

Answer 6

Do other people owe you fruits of involentary slavery to pay for your necessities?

It is philosophical.

Think for yourself.

Answer 7

Ist No one is very truned away that needs help.

No one

Driving is not a right Getting Marred is not a right and your heath care is not a right.

Answer 8

I am a CMA and I am receiving my Insurance and Coding/Billing Certification

It should be a RIGHT not a privilege... If it was a privilege no one would get health care because someone would play god and say who does and doesn't deserve treatment.. Example a smoker who has breathing troubles would not get treatment or a person with a mental disability would not get treatment because the person could think that they do not deserve help

Here is an example if someone doesn't intervene with health care reform..My kids doctor became affiliated with Kaiser..To be a Kaiser member I would have to pay $750 monthly. If I am self pay I do not have to pay the $750 monthly. I only pay for when they are seen which is less than $750 . Why pay $750 a month and never use it that $750 could be used for another bill or food.

Answer 9

its a right if you work hard go to college and get a good education then you can pay for yourself if you dont work hard its not right for somebody who did to have to pay your bills for you

Answer 10

Its amazing how people think they shouldn't get healthcare because they are lazy asses who smoke crack.......

What about people who are hard workers but cannot afford some hospital bills?

Like a kindergarden teachers child has cancer.......she's no lazy bum but should her child suffer because her paycheck is too small, and insurance refuses to cover it?

Health Care should be a right in america and the insurance system needs to be reformed.

Its also funny that while these people don't want their money to go to helping people some of them have no qualms about their money going to Iraq to fund a pointless war.......I'd much rather give money to helping people than killing people any day of the week

Answer 11

Right? Based on what?  How much?  Paid by whom?  You already have that right.  You want it, buy it.  No one is stopping you.  And that includes those with pre-existing conditions...the states include support for those individuals!

Answer 12

You have the right to buy medical insurance.  You have the right to pay for your own medical care, and you cannot be denied care in this country.  What more could you want?

Why should hard working Americans pay for the care of lazy or drug addicted Americans? (this excludes those who are disabled)

WE SHOULDN'T

skylar...then go to the UK!  Their system is so good that people are pulling their own teeth because the waiting list to see a dentist is so long.

CHAR...you are EXACTLY backwards. If the government gets involved, it would worse than HMOs.  The GOVERNMENT would decide who gets what procedures.  This is happening in Canada, England, etc.  Sorry, but you do not want government having that control.

windseek...Michael Moore-on is a radical fool.  When he is talking or putting people in front of camera, he is lying or maniuplating people.  Sicko, like every other mocumentary he has done, is a film of exagerations and blatant lies.  We have the greatest health care system on the planet.  It has its problems, but it is still the best.  That is why Canadians who can afford it come here for real care when they face anything serious.

Samsonite...stop drinking the liberal kool aid.

1.  We are not the only civilized western country without guaranteed health care.  

2.  We have guaranteed health care.  You cannot be refused medical care.

3.  You do not want to compare the horrible health care systems of countries with taxpayer funded health care to that of the US because ours is FAR superior.

joe...THAT IS A LIBERAL LIE!  Not all do, and those who do can keep their pathetic level of care.

Andy...I donated A LOT to charity each year.  It has nothing to do with greed.  It has everything to do with the fact that I sacrificed and worked my @$$ off to get where I am today.  Why should I pay for lazy pricks who are already eating due to my tax dollars, or people who are getting stoned on my tax dollars?  And as a side note, you should really read "Who Really Cares?"  If you read it with an open mind, it will open your eyes.  

Another point is that as long as you can drive through the poorest urban areas in the US, and see kids wearing Air Jordans, listening to their IPODs and talking on their cell phones, I have no sympathy that they cannot afford health care.

Marisa...do you have cable television?  A phone, or a home and cell phone?  An IPOD?  A car payment?  Smoke?  Drink?  Go out to dinner?  Go to Starbucks a couple of times a week?

I spent almost 8 years with none of those things.  I paid today's equivalent to $200 for the car I drove less than 1000 miles A YEAR during that time and put a lot of miles on my bicycle.  You show me someone who claims that they cannot afford health insurance, and I will show you someone who can afford at the very least a high deductable insurance.

Answer 13

If we let the government take care of us, things will inevitably go wrong. Our government isn't made to take care of us, it's made to deal with the military. This could just be one more step that Obama wants us to take towards becoming a communist government.  

Answer 14

healthcare is something all working folks should pay for

retirees have earned the right to free healthcare

all others pay

including all the free loading immigrants

Answer 15

You have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

No where does it say you have the right to government healthcare.

Answer 16

A right. But not because you are American or because you pay taxes. Simply because you are a human being. In the states, you have a system called the justice market, if you get sick it's you bloody fault and you deserve it for being a turkey. In England if you get sick, they say sh*t happens, and you get cured, for free. It's not your intention to get sick, so why should you stay that way?

Think about it, where would you rather get sick?

Answer 17

it really should be a right like it is in the UK

Answer 18

Absolutely not.  Why should I pay for someone else's health care with my taxes if they spent their entire life, say, sitting around smoking crack to the point where their teeth have fallen out and they now have emphysema?  .

Why should I be responsible for people who have done nothing but abuse themselves their whole life?

Why should I have to pick from a list of government chosen health care providers?

Answer 19

The best source for you to check out would be Michael Moore's documentary, Sicko. It should be a right and covered by tax money. People who currently are against this idea have not yet run into a serious health issue that costs them everything they own to survive after being refused insurance coverage that they were supposed to be entitled to.