Is health care in America a basic right or privilege?

Until I joined Hubpages last summer I lived in blissful ignorance of American Healthcare issues. Sure, I knew that there was no national scheme, but I assumed that everyone was covered by medical insurance,... keep reading →

Basic Right? Privilege? They say YES! and they say NO! As for me, I just believe that medical care should be provided to all sick and injured, regardless of their income bracket, or even their species. For Goodness sake! We'd be doing better than we are now if we'd simply provide the same humanitarian attitude towards our people as we do our pets!

Is health care a right? That is a good question because people like to use the constitution for the basis of everything they believe is a birth right these days. The answer is yes and no. Yes everyone that can afford health insurance is entitled to it. If you are poor enough and can prove it you are entitled to whatever help your particular state offers, this is a state issue. I say the answer is also no because it is not a constitutional right whereas it is written that every American will have health insurance. If that were the case it would be free and everyone would have it. We like to use the constitution as the reason why we should have everything we want but in reality the constitution is nothing more than a set of government limitations, it is designed to prevent big government from controlling everything much like it is trying to now.

Don't have a right or wrong answer to this. However, to support those individuals who do NOT have insurance, somebody needs to step up to the plate and provide some help. How bout private contributions from anonymous sources, then give em a big tax break, deduction for supporting public/free clinics for the uninsured? Of course, I don't think the government ought to make them do it, but they should make it worth their while in tax breaks for making the contributions. Oh, that's right, aren't they taking away tax breaks for contributions?

Is health care a right to every U.S. citizen? My answer is yes. There are far too many people who go without much needed health care because they cannot afford it. I know many people who have lost all of... keep reading →

The choice to LIVE a healthy life (eat healthy and exercise) if is a RIGHT that too many people fail to take advantage of. Many of our "health" issues are personal choices.

You know what RKHenn I was about ask the same thing its such a highly discussed topic and it can drain you mentally at times! You feel me my brother!

The human right to medical care is a must of human life. Having the right to medical care is a need of human life here in America yet in the world. people should not be left without proper medical care. Why... keep reading →

Health care is definitely a right. It is criminal, some of the rates that insurance companies charge. The fact that they have been in existence this long in our country is a disgrace.

It should be a basic right for everyone, however, it is treated as a privilege in America. This should not even be a debate. Everyone deserves to receive health care no matter your race, ethnicity, social status, etc. If you haven't seen it already, you should check out Michael Moore's documentary entitled "Sicko."

The deterioration of service started with getting insurance companies and HMOs involved in most health care. Insurance for common injuries and illnesses is what started us on the road to medical care deterioration. Insurance for a broken arm, teeth cleaning, the flu...? Give me a break. Those are common occurrences. Insurance is for the unexpected or rare expensive potential problems, not every little whiny problem.

Then, companies getting involved with offering insurance as a benefit accelerated the problem by enabling increased costs and creating a two-tier system -- those "lucky" enough to have company insurance on the one hand and those peons self-employed or working for small companies on the other.

If you think the situation is bad now, wait until you get Marxarack Obama's plan (whatever it is). It will become even worse. Remember, EGTTTS (everything government touches turns to shinola).

Count on the American people to usually make the wrong choice. It's a wonder the country has lasted as long as it has.

Is health care a right to every U.S. citizen? My answer is yes. There are far too many people who go without much needed health care because they cannot afford it. I know many people who have lost all of... keep reading →

The human right to medical care is a must of human life. Having the right to medical care is a need of human life here in America yet in the world. people should not be left without proper medical care. Why... keep reading →

Good question - I think we often confuse rights with privileges.

I believe "Rights" are conditions we are born with, conditions society must not infringe upon in any material way - ie freedom of religion, the pursuit of happiness (as defined by the founders) for example.

Privileges, on the other hand flow from and are provided (at some cost) by the society in which we live. Operating an automobile is a privilege, not a right! Vehicles are built by others, roads provided by others, fuel provided by others .. and so on ... all at some cost.

Morally, it would be nice if "healthcare" flowed from a hole in the ground, but it does not, and because we are at the mercy of society to produce "healthcare" - we have no "Right" to impose the cost of providing healthcare on other members of our society.

Ask yourself, should I pay the healthcare cost for someone who smokes, over eats, does not exercise or makes no attempt to care for themselves??

Many - many heath problems are directly related to life style choices made by the individual - which makes the issue of healtcare entitlement and even sticker question.

If one were to say that health care is a right, then I ask, who endowed this right to the individual? The government did not endow this right, at least not yet, did some superior being endow humans with this right? I don't know, we are not to merge religion and government. Is it the government's right to steal from me and my family to provide for someone who is not willing to work? Is it the individuals right to profit from this theft? I think the answers to these questions are quite obvious.