So we're going to start out with a very basic, but highly debated topic to get everyone talking! This is completely opinion, so give it a shot. Here is the question:
I think that health care should be a right. Yes, it is becoming continually costly but there should be some other form for others less fortunate to be able to have care in some way. I saw that currently prisoners are the only group of people that are granted the right to health care... so why aren't the homeless or people from third world countries granted this? Health care is a privilege only for those able to attain it, given by employers, insurance plans, etc., yet health care should be provided to those in need too.
I also agree that healthcare should be a right because everyone should be able to get the care that they need when they need it. I also feel that like any other right there should be rules that go along with it in order to make sure that people use it one a need by need basis so we don't have to keep healthcare a privilege that only some can get.
Although I do believe health care should be a right for any and every American citizen, unfortunately, it currently is a privilege that we often overlook as a right. Consequently, health care is only 'awarded' to those who can afford it or those who are lucky enough to reap the benefits of good insurance. It's strange to me that despite the helping nature that health care embodies, it is not able to help everyone, as it should. We live in a country that provides more medical studies and research to the world than any other nation, and yet somehow we can't seem to get the foundation of health care right in our own country...ironic.
I feel that health care should be a right. Each individual should be given the opportunity to be cared for when they are sick. Many Americans can't afford that costs for medical procedures which in return can lead to a more dangerous sickness. Right now it is a privilege to have health care, and this is unfair to children. Children can't control what their parents can and cannot afford. How can we deny them medical procedures when they really need it?
I believe that healthcare is a privilege. We live in a world in which the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. But oddly enough, the rich have the best insurance that money can buy because they can afford it, and the poor are eligible for something called Medicaid. People who have Medicaid take advantage of the FREE benefits. They don't have to pay for anything. No office copays, no prescription copays, nothing. And a lot of people on Medicaid take advantage of this. Why is it fair that someone can sit home and do nothing with their life and do drugs, while some other person is putting in 40 hours a week to support a family, yet can't afford health care for their family? Unfortunately, healthcare is a privilege for the upper and lower class system, but should be a right for everyone.
healthcare should be a right in this day in age but sadly it is becoming more and more of a privilage especially in today's downfalling economy. The more people go into debt the more you hear of people that cant go to the doctor even for a routine visit. Take a simple ER visit with no complications it can be close to $1000 before you leave the hospital, and forget if you take an ambulance there thats almost another $1000! Healthcare shouldn't be driven by money but again sadly the health care organizations and pharmaceutical companies drive prices up so it has turned into a privilage instead of being a right!
Health care should be a right. There are many aspects of today's society which are limited by money, things such as cars, clothing, and even the food you buy. Health care should not be one of them. Everyone has the right to live/ lead a healthy life no matter their economic status. Even though I feel this, I also think it should be closely monitored as there are always going to be several people who abuse/ take advantage of something that is free. The minute people think they have the right to something they slowly stop taking the steps to give them that right. (Ex. Stop working because they know they will get health care despite their job status).
I think that Health care should also be a right, not a privilage. However, I think that the way in which Health care functions should change. I think the US should consider what other places do to succeed in treating and caring for people. For example, Canada has a simple system in which health care is funded mostly by the government. This allows a person to go to the hospital (or any service) for almost nothing or significantly less than what American costs are. I've seen some surveys that poll the Canadians on their thoughts, and they like their system better than ours. Oh Obama...I think it's time for a change!
Today, health care is a privilege. One that is abused, especially the health care system. Is it really necessary for the prices of prescription drugs, ambulance rides, or a hospital visit to be so expensive? Where is all of this money going? It should go back to the people in need who can't afford the health care they need to survive. This privilege for those able to afford the health care they need, are less in need than the middle to lower class fighting to make day to day, attempting to provide their families. No child should be left with out the care, no matter the status of their parents. There needs to be some type of assistance for those in need.
Health care should be a right. There isn't one person out there that shouldn't have the right to health care or at least some form of it. Currently this isn't the situation and the people that need it the most can't get it. I agree with Anne I do not understand why getting the proper care needs to be so expensive. If anyone is sick or hurt and they need help, I believe they should be able to get the care they need without having to worry about the expensive bills that come afterward.
Health care should be a right to all people. I have to agree with many of the previous posts though that the major downfall will be those that abuse the system. I think of it similar to collecting unemployment. For those people that need to collect unemployment it is great, but there are too many people that find ways around and abuse the system.
I think that health care should be a right. Everyone should have an equal oppurtnuity to the basic health care needs. I think that there should be a tightly monitored, flat rate, system that is given equally to everyone. Living in one of the most dominant countries in the world it is a shame and an embarassment that we have people dying and sick because they can't get good health care when we have some of the best doctors. Health care should be given to everyone no matter what their situation may be.
I believe that heathcare is a fundemental right which should not be exploited. Whether one is rich or poor, we all deserve the right for our country to provide nessecary healthcare, excluding elective procedures such as plastic surgery, however. I believe that it is a nation's duty to provide healthcare for its citizens and, as some have said above, to monitor the systems use and abuse. Citizens have a right to health equality and quality, after all, a nation is a unit which does need to be cared for.
Health Care as it is today is a privilege. Many people get benefits through the professional organization that they work for. However, just as many if not more people do not get benefits nor do they have the money to pay for health insurance themselves. Without proper health insurance, people do not receive the healthcare that they need. I believe that the system is flawed, and that people should have an equal opportunity to receive healthcare.
I believe that healthcare should be a given right to all individuals. We developed this country on the foundations of establishing justice and peace and looking out for the well being of all peoples. Unfortunately today we find that we aren't looking out for everyone like our founding fathers suggested, we are merely looking out for the small majority of the population that can pay for things. I believe that this is rather unfair and insensitive. All our citizens should be able to get quality healthcare no matter their race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. We all have the right to equality so why not enforce it. By not having helathcare as a right we are placing people at higher ranks than others, basically saying that some people aren't good enough to have the healthcare they deserve. In a sense we are saying to the oppressed and the unfortunate that there life isn't as important as someone elses. Today in our society healthcare is a priviledge, which is unfortunately do to our lack of organization in government. There is no healthcare bill or way to help the underserved. With time I hope that our country can give all their citizens the one right they deserve, equal healthcare
I too, feel health care should be a right. I think there should be some form of universal health care system that provides basic health care to all (annual checkups and dental cleanings for example). If some people want to have their own private insurance it would be completely up to them (and if they could afford it). It just seems logical to me if people had physicals every year and were educated by their doctors of life style changes or if they are at risk for heart disease etc. then there would be less life long chronic problems. Those are the things that are creating so much debt. The over-priced insurance companies need to be changed as well, because their priorities are CEO compensations and advertising, not providing the best care to their customers.
I believe that healthcare should be a right. I think that healthcare should be regulated by the government on a national level. That way, wealthier states could help out poorer states. Also, the healthcare system would be more fair if it was regulated on a national level; this would allow everyone to get the proper care no matter what their class, race, or where they lived. I also believe that, when someone walks into a hospital, the care should come first, not the question of how they are going to get paid. This would allow people to get the proper care quickly.
Health care, unfortunately, is a privilege in America. Those who can afford it, have it. The idea of health care being a right arises the issue of overuse and abuse of the system (as in every other venue). Should health care be available to every American citizen? Yes. But again, if we enable health care to become a right (funded by US tax dollars) good luck finding physicians to work in your hospitals. One way or the other, right or privilege, there is going to be the underlying issue money. The entire concept of a health care system should be reestablished before even considering it to be a right or privilege.
I believe that healthcare should be a right to everyone. In a world where everyone is cutting back more and more, healthcare should not be something that people have to go without. Everyone should feel comfortable knowing if they get sick they will be cared for. Its not very fair that most people think of how they will pay for care first instead of just not worrying about it.
I think that healthcare should be a right, but people abuse the system to such an extent that it is more fair to make it a privilege. No one has the choice to what kind of family they are born into and to what the economic status is of that family. To make it a right, everyone has the ability to get the necessary check-ups and doctor's visits. There are always going to be people that abuse the system no matter what and by making it a right, it just creates less problems.
This was one of the big issues that was discussed in my bioethics class last semester. Healthcare should be a right. Therefore by developing a universal system would allow everyone to get a basic amount of care. Only issue with this system is to decide what should be limited in the care and what is allowed so we do not run out. No one should have to suffer because they were born into poverty or because of a recent downfall. It should be in our human nature to be kind and considerate to all beings, therefore providing so everyone has an equal opportunity
Of course healthcare should be we right, but as we all know that isn't reality. People who have income/jobs are able to obtain health insurance, its a privelage to them. Though there is no universial health care yet, many people in maine are able to recieve mainecare or medicaid based on their daily income and age. Now this is a great thing, but lets be real, some people take advantage of it mostly pretaining to drugs and narcotics. If they have medical insurance it is easy to go to the ER say you have pain and get pain medication.
At the moment, American healthcare coverage is a privilege, however it should be a basic right. There are many different ways to fund money for this healthcare system, such as higher taxes (which most don't want, however if you get healthcare out of the deal is it really that bad?) or even raising the taxes on products coming into the country. Everyone should have basic healthcare, with yearly physicals, eye exams, and dentist visits so even those that are poor can learn how to take care of themselves no matter what situation they're in. Extending healthcare to all could end up with this country becoming healthier as a whole, which would be a very good thing. There could also be a private insurance for those wealthier that want more or less coverage, but we need to find a system to make sure that everyone receives at least the basics.
I agree, I believe healthcare should be a basic right for all people. Every person deserves the option of healthcare. I agree with a lot of what Rachael said, health care should be a national right, including yearly physicals and dental care atleast. The funding for this health care seems to be the major issue surrounding the topic, and increasing taxes might not sit well with a lot of people. There should be a system in place where a basic level of health care is available for all people and if you want to add on to these benefits, you have the option of investing in the private insurance companies.
I agree with Rachel. Right now Health care is a privilege; however, it should be a basic right. The citizens of this country are promised life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If a person cannot have health care then in my opinion they are not being cheated out of one of the three major foundations of this country--life. Health care exits to prolong the life of an individual by maintaining overall health. Universal health care should exist for the benefit of all, but I am by no means confident of the present legislation making this happen. Just the same health care is a right that the government thus far has failed to protect. Privatized health care is not accessible for all, there for health care will stay a privilege until it is available to everyone--then and only then will it be a right.
I think that while health care certainly should be a right, making this happen in an efficient manner would be extremely difficult. Providing free health care to a large population has many obstacles. For example would it be possible to still keep the speed of treatmentss? For some procedures waiting a while would not be a problem, but obviously some illnesses require immediate treatment for any chance at success. It has been mentioned before but I think the best way to proceed, at least for the time being, would be to meet half way. A base level of free health care needs to be provided for the entire population, however the option should be available for those who have the ability to spend their money on additional care if they wish. The biggest problem I could see with this is making sure that the base level of free care maintains at a good standard, and that it doesn't deteriorate to something that is only marginally better than nothing at all.
This is Terry Gauvin - Currently health insurance is a right for children under 18 whose parents do not have insurance and parents with little to no income (known as MaineCare), and for people over the age of 65 (known Medicare) all others health insurance is a privilege. I believe that health insurance should be a right to everyone who is a United States Citizen. We are currently giving health care to people who are illegal aliens who have never paid a single tax dollar to the United States. The problem with making this a right, is that it is a very expensive proposition. There needs to be some sort of basic coverage like Medicare with the ability to purchase additional coverage (supplemental insurance) if they choose to. Currently people on Medicare have the ability to purchase excess insurance coverage which ultimately ends up paying 100% of the medical bill in most cases. The government can not afford to cover everyone the way we currently are, but if the gave everyone basic coverage then at least there wouldn't be anybody without some sort of coverage.
I think that healthcare should be a right and availible to everyone. however, not everyone should be able to have the same coverage. as someone said earlier in post people can qualify for medicare and other sorts of healthcare coverage to pay for treatments. Often times those people do take advantage of the system the country has and ruins things for the people that are unable to afford or qualify for coverage. I personally believe we as a country need to go back from scratch and come up with a system that covers everyone or allows everyone the oppurtunity to have coverage but still have it private.
I believe that healthcare should be a right, and for most people it seems like it is. Many people are already offered state and government funded insurance policies (Maine Care, Mass Health, etc.). Also, many companies and employers reinforce health care options and policies to chose from. The only problem I see with health care not being a right is for the average middle class American for coverage and policies can become expensive as well as many medications that insurance companies do not feel are mandatory for a person to be taking. There needs to be more options for those who are pinching pennies for coverage through their work and state funded programs that they are not eligible for.
Good healthcare is not a citizen’s right. It is a privilege given to the people. You should not be forced to have it nor should it be given to everyone out of somebody else's pocket. The healthcare system in America today is not perfect. Insurance companies have too much freedom and power over how much they can charge as well as what and to whom they offer their services. This is why there have been issues with the costs of prescription drugs and the ridiculously high cost to have health insurance. The universal healthcare plan is not the answer to this solution. The government should force insurance companies to make more affordable plans as well as provide more jobs for the people so they can afford healthcare on their own. This way everyone is responsible for their own life and they will also have the opportunity to have some form of healthcare.
I think that right now our healthcare system is a privledge which is constantly abused by those who can afford it. I would like to one day see our country as a universal healthcare system, however I do not foreseeit in the near future, Which is unfortunate. It is a shame that the homeless and lower-class individuals cannot afford to have healthcare. Shouldnt everyone have the same opportunities for their health? why is one person's life less valuable than anothers in that they are not given equal opportunities? I agree that healthcare should become a right as a citizen but there should be some order to the system so that people do not abuse it.
Health care is currently a privilege, and is working its way toward becoming a right through universal health care. Although i believe that health care should be a right for all citizens I do not feel that universal health care and the plan that is being developed is the correct way of going about doing this. Currently there are 30 million Americans who are unable to get health coverage. People can be charged more for preexisting conditions including obesity, diabetes, and being a victim of domestic violence. Clearly the current system is not what it should be. Health care should be right for all citizens, alongside the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Health care is both a right and a privilege. In a perfect world, everyone would have equal access to doctors and the services they provide. In a perfect world, everyone would have a home and enough food and clean water. In a perfect world, people wouldn’t want for anything; however, the world is not perfect. What the health care crisis boils down to, and what most people fail to realize, is that insuring hundreds of millions of people costs an exorbitant amount of money, money that we don’t have and money that people are not willing to give up. In a day and age when, more often than not, people are living paycheck to paycheck, raising taxes or charging the uninsured will only drive the destitute farther into financial crisis. What needs to be restructured is the system all-together; do away entirely with the idea that a person needs to be “insured” to receive care, a system that only feeds into the pockets of insurance company CEOs, and put that money directly into a government-run health care system. Until this happens, until any sense of privatization of medical services has been eradicated, health care will remain more of a privilege than a right.
I think that health care today can be a combination of both a right and a privledge. I feel that there are certain people in this world who are going to abuse the right that they are given making me feel that it should not be readily available to everyone. The other side of things is that there are those people who do all they can but its not always enough. There is no right or wrong answer but I feel that it should be able to go both ways allowing for different situations to be looked at in different ways.
I think that basic health care should be a citizen's right, not a privilege. Currently, health care is a privilege and those who cannot afford decent insurance find themselves picking and choosing which ailment is necessity and what sort of cold will be serious enough to go to the doctors. I think that it's sad. I would like to see availability of services and medications/vaccinations available to most people, but unfortunately i don't see that happening anytime soon.
I believe that healthcare should be a right for all citizens. Everyone deserves the right to be healthy and happy regardless of how much you can afford. Unfortuntately, that is not the case in the country we currently live in. The healthcare system in the US is supportive of those who can pay for the services. If you do not have the money to pay for them then the service that you do get is often of minimal service or inadequate coverage/quality. It is my hope that someday good quality healthcare will be available to everyone.
I believe that health care is seen as a privilege in the US, but that it should be a basic right for all citizens. Health care should be available to people of all classes, and in a perfect world it would be. Unfortunately health care has become a very large business in the US and is very profitable for insurance companies. With so many people being neglected by the current privatized health care system, health care has become a privilege of the wealthy. All citizens are entitled to health care, and even though there are major flaws in the current plans for universal health care, they are definitely a step in the right direction.
I believe that healthcare in the United States should, above all else, be considered a privilege. Like many of the repsonses above, I believe that many of the United States population takes advantage of the healtchare that is provided to them. Those who can afford it will many times abuse it. The healthcare in our nation could be used for so many more things than it is currently used for, and the the money that it makes could be used in a much more positive fashion. The less fortunate could benefit from what healthcare companies provide, however, the money flowing through these healthcare companies is never brought back out. But I can see and do beleive that efforts are trying to be made to reduce these situations from further occuring. But for now I hope we can appreciate the steps being made to reduce it a little at a time..
I believe that healthcare in the US is a privilege, but should also be considered a right. All people should have the right to live happy and healthy lives and this could be found through a generic base plan healthcare that all people in the US should be able to have. However like most things in the US money can speak volumes, so in that case the wealthier people can have access to a better more beneficial healthcare programe that they pay for.
Health care is a human right. Unfortunately for low or moderate income families or individuals, it is simply not an option, surpassed by more important issues such as food, rent, etc...Premiums from insurance companies or the deductions from company health care policies would not leave these families with the money to live. Sadly it is these individuals that show up in the ER in later stages of a severe illness, undoubtedly facing a huge medical bill rather than an office visit rate. Universal health care should exist so that everyone may benefit from proper care.
I believe that basic healthcare should be a right even though right now it is mearly a privilege. Every person should have the right to get access to the treatments they need to become healthy again. Today medical expenses are extremely expensive and there are many people who cannot afford the care they need. In my opinion, every US citizen should have basic universal healthcare. No one should have to worry about not being able to get treated at a hospital because they cannot afford it.
I feel healthcare should be a privilege and a right. It is should be a right, because as Sarah said, no one should worry about getting treated or getting medications they need due to the inability to afford it. I did not realize how big of a problem this was until I followed one of the Doctors at UHC. 90% of the patients that came in said they should be on medications but are not on them due to cost. It is sad. It should also be seen as a privilege because once something is a mandated people take advantage of it. Healthcare should not be something taken advantage of. Just because it is available does not mean people have the right to belittle or swamp the medical field
I also feel that healthcare should be a right. Everyone should be able to have to have some kind of basic care including perscriptions, physicals, and emergency care so they don't have to worry if they will be covered and put thier health at risk. However, I also believe it should be a privelege too. There are many people who take advantage of the healthcare system and that's not fair for the people who really need it. So I feel there should be some stipulations or some lines should be drawn in order to keep people from using and abusing the system.
Healthcare is a right that all humans should be given. It is unfortunate that the way our current healthcare system is run that many Americans go without this important right. In only a few days of class, it has become clear that many of our current issues in health are sociological and come in patterns based on the society you live in. They are not random and are not always due to faults in the self. They are due to our culture and the "American way of life." The ability to afford healthcare is not something that the average human should have to worry about and cause additional stress. It should be a right that all humans should possess.
Like most of the comments I scanned as i scrolled down, I have to agree that health care should be available to everyone regardless of their income or social status. However it is very unfortunate that this is not the case. I'm not exactly sure on the statics of people with insurance in the US and without but I was currently in Peru over winter break and learned that 80% of the people of Peru are provided with health care services of some sort. Unfortunately it's that 20% of the people that need it the most. However if it there were more of them without health care then more of them would need it. It really is a shame that health care isn't more easily accessible not only for 3rd world countries but also for people here in the U.S. Since most of us are in the health field we are aware of the benefits of being healthy and staying healthy. Maybe if everyone had access to health care than our economy would improve because our people are doing well. maybe we wouldn't have so many people in poverty....
I believe that everyone should be entitled to healthcare in this country and throughout the world. I also understand that there are already several programs that are in place to ensure that those who do not have jobs or are low income can be provided with health insurance. While other people simply choose not to spend their money on health insurance for personal reasons. For this reason, I think it should be a person's choice or in a way a privilege rather, to choose whether or not they have health insurance. And for those who do not even have the ability to choose because they are income less, the government should provide them with the subsidy or funds or entitlement to have healthcare. People know before they choose to get a career or go through school that health insurance costs money. And based on this, they should approach whatever career they choose knowing that they will have part of their income paid to insurance.
I don’t, however, think it should be managed ENTIRELY by our government and funded by our tax dollars. Too many people take advantage of government programs and the government continues to do a poor job at regulating these issues.
Additionally, I have spoken with family members who live overseas, and in their country they have universal healthcare. Everything is free for them. Now I have family members that are considered to be in the upper and the lower classes. They both have come to a consensus that the healthcare system over there does not work for them. Since everybody has access, and there are not enough doctors to go around, no matter what, somebody is not receiving the medical care they need. As well, they noted that the quality of healthcare significantly reduces because the doctors are not getting paid nearly enough for the amount of straining work they perform. It ultimately forces individuals to seek private healthcare facilities that make them pay an arm and a leg for quality healthcare while those who can’t afford it become lodged in the same predicament they originated with.
Universal or not it still ends up becoming a privilege.
Like many of the previous comments, I believe that health care for everyone, no matter how much money they make, or skin color, is a basic right not a privilidge. Unfortunately, as we have been learning in class, healthcare in our society is a priviledge. Based on what rank of the social ladder you are born on, plays a huge factor in determining what level of health care you will receive. Those who don't make a lot of money, can't pay the money for health insurance, and can't afford to go to the doctor. I feel like in the United states, we should be able to make it so that there can be healthcare for everyong.
I think everyone should be able to have some sort of health care but like many things in life I feel like that privileged should be able to be revoked from the people who misuse the system.
I think that health care should be a right. Yes, it is becoming continually costly but there should be some other form for others less fortunate to be able to have care in some way. I saw that currently prisoners are the only group of people that are granted the right to health care... so why aren't the homeless or people from third world countries granted this? Health care is a privilege only for those able to attain it, given by employers, insurance plans, etc., yet health care should be provided to those in need too.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that healthcare should be a right because everyone should be able to get the care that they need when they need it. I also feel that like any other right there should be rules that go along with it in order to make sure that people use it one a need by need basis so we don't have to keep healthcare a privilege that only some can get.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do believe health care should be a right for any and every American citizen, unfortunately, it currently is a privilege that we often overlook as a right. Consequently, health care is only 'awarded' to those who can afford it or those who are lucky enough to reap the benefits of good insurance. It's strange to me that despite the helping nature that health care embodies, it is not able to help everyone, as it should. We live in a country that provides more medical studies and research to the world than any other nation, and yet somehow we can't seem to get the foundation of health care right in our own country...ironic.
ReplyDeleteI feel that health care should be a right. Each individual should be given the opportunity to be cared for when they are sick. Many Americans can't afford that costs for medical procedures which in return can lead to a more dangerous sickness. Right now it is a privilege to have health care, and this is unfair to children. Children can't control what their parents can and cannot afford. How can we deny them medical procedures when they really need it?
ReplyDeleteI believe that healthcare is a privilege. We live in a world in which the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. But oddly enough, the rich have the best insurance that money can buy because they can afford it, and the poor are eligible for something called Medicaid. People who have Medicaid take advantage of the FREE benefits. They don't have to pay for anything. No office copays, no prescription copays, nothing. And a lot of people on Medicaid take advantage of this. Why is it fair that someone can sit home and do nothing with their life and do drugs, while some other person is putting in 40 hours a week to support a family, yet can't afford health care for their family? Unfortunately, healthcare is a privilege for the upper and lower class system, but should be a right for everyone.
ReplyDeletehealthcare should be a right in this day in age but sadly it is becoming more and more of a privilage especially in today's downfalling economy. The more people go into debt the more you hear of people that cant go to the doctor even for a routine visit. Take a simple ER visit with no complications it can be close to $1000 before you leave the hospital, and forget if you take an ambulance there thats almost another $1000! Healthcare shouldn't be driven by money but again sadly the health care organizations and pharmaceutical companies drive prices up so it has turned into a privilage instead of being a right!
ReplyDeleteHealth care should be a right. There are many aspects of today's society which are limited by money, things such as cars, clothing, and even the food you buy. Health care should not be one of them. Everyone has the right to live/ lead a healthy life no matter their economic status. Even though I feel this, I also think it should be closely monitored as there are always going to be several people who abuse/ take advantage of something that is free. The minute people think they have the right to something they slowly stop taking the steps to give them that right. (Ex. Stop working because they know they will get health care despite their job status).
ReplyDeleteI think that Health care should also be a right, not a privilage. However, I think that the way in which Health care functions should change. I think the US should consider what other places do to succeed in treating and caring for people. For example, Canada has a simple system in which health care is funded mostly by the government. This allows a person to go to the hospital (or any service) for almost nothing or significantly less than what American costs are. I've seen some surveys that poll the Canadians on their thoughts, and they like their system better than ours. Oh Obama...I think it's time for a change!
ReplyDeleteToday, health care is a privilege. One that is abused, especially the health care system. Is it really necessary for the prices of prescription drugs, ambulance rides, or a hospital visit to be so expensive? Where is all of this money going? It should go back to the people in need who can't afford the health care they need to survive. This privilege for those able to afford the health care they need, are less in need than the middle to lower class fighting to make day to day, attempting to provide their families. No child should be left with out the care, no matter the status of their parents. There needs to be some type of assistance for those in need.
ReplyDeleteHealth care should be a right. There isn't one person out there that shouldn't have the right to health care or at least some form of it. Currently this isn't the situation and the people that need it the most can't get it. I agree with Anne I do not understand why getting the proper care needs to be so expensive. If anyone is sick or hurt and they need help, I believe they should be able to get the care they need without having to worry about the expensive bills that come afterward.
ReplyDeleteHealth care should be a right to all people. I have to agree with many of the previous posts though that the major downfall will be those that abuse the system. I think of it similar to collecting unemployment. For those people that need to collect unemployment it is great, but there are too many people that find ways around and abuse the system.
ReplyDeleteI think that health care should be a right. Everyone should have an equal oppurtnuity to the basic health care needs. I think that there should be a tightly monitored, flat rate, system that is given equally to everyone. Living in one of the most dominant countries in the world it is a shame and an embarassment that we have people dying and sick because they can't get good health care when we have some of the best doctors. Health care should be given to everyone no matter what their situation may be.
ReplyDeleteI believe that heathcare is a fundemental right which should not be exploited. Whether one is rich or poor, we all deserve the right for our country to provide nessecary healthcare, excluding elective procedures such as plastic surgery, however. I believe that it is a nation's duty to provide healthcare for its citizens and, as some have said above, to monitor the systems use and abuse. Citizens have a right to health equality and quality, after all, a nation is a unit which does need to be cared for.
ReplyDeleteHealth Care as it is today is a privilege. Many people get benefits through the professional organization that they work for. However, just as many if not more people do not get benefits nor do they have the money to pay for health insurance themselves. Without proper health insurance, people do not receive the healthcare that they need. I believe that the system is flawed, and that people should have an equal opportunity to receive healthcare.
ReplyDeleteI believe that healthcare should be a given right to all individuals. We developed this country on the foundations of establishing justice and peace and looking out for the well being of all peoples. Unfortunately today we find that we aren't looking out for everyone like our founding fathers suggested, we are merely looking out for the small majority of the population that can pay for things. I believe that this is rather unfair and insensitive. All our citizens should be able to get quality healthcare no matter their race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. We all have the right to equality so why not enforce it. By not having helathcare as a right we are placing people at higher ranks than others, basically saying that some people aren't good enough to have the healthcare they deserve. In a sense we are saying to the oppressed and the unfortunate that there life isn't as important as someone elses. Today in our society healthcare is a priviledge, which is unfortunately do to our lack of organization in government. There is no healthcare bill or way to help the underserved. With time I hope that our country can give all their citizens the one right they deserve, equal healthcare
ReplyDeleteI too, feel health care should be a right. I think there should be some form of universal health care system that provides basic health care to all (annual checkups and dental cleanings for example). If some people want to have their own private insurance it would be completely up to them (and if they could afford it). It just seems logical to me if people had physicals every year and were educated by their doctors of life style changes or if they are at risk for heart disease etc. then there would be less life long chronic problems. Those are the things that are creating so much debt. The over-priced insurance companies need to be changed as well, because their priorities are CEO compensations and advertising, not providing the best care to their customers.
ReplyDeleteI believe that healthcare should be a right. I think that healthcare should be regulated by the government on a national level. That way, wealthier states could help out poorer states. Also, the healthcare system would be more fair if it was regulated on a national level; this would allow everyone to get the proper care no matter what their class, race, or where they lived. I also believe that, when someone walks into a hospital, the care should come first, not the question of how they are going to get paid. This would allow people to get the proper care quickly.
ReplyDeleteHealth care, unfortunately, is a privilege in America. Those who can afford it, have it. The idea of health care being a right arises the issue of overuse and abuse of the system (as in every other venue). Should health care be available to every American citizen? Yes. But again, if we enable health care to become a right (funded by US tax dollars) good luck finding physicians to work in your hospitals. One way or the other, right or privilege, there is going to be the underlying issue money. The entire concept of a health care system should be reestablished before even considering it to be a right or privilege.
ReplyDeleteI believe that healthcare should be a right to everyone. In a world where everyone is cutting back more and more, healthcare should not be something that people have to go without. Everyone should feel comfortable knowing if they get sick they will be cared for. Its not very fair that most people think of how they will pay for care first instead of just not worrying about it.
ReplyDeleteI think that healthcare should be a right, but people abuse the system to such an extent that it is more fair to make it a privilege. No one has the choice to what kind of family they are born into and to what the economic status is of that family. To make it a right, everyone has the ability to get the necessary check-ups and doctor's visits. There are always going to be people that abuse the system no matter what and by making it a right, it just creates less problems.
ReplyDeleteThis was one of the big issues that was discussed in my bioethics class last semester. Healthcare should be a right. Therefore by developing a universal system would allow everyone to get a basic amount of care. Only issue with this system is to decide what should be limited in the care and what is allowed so we do not run out. No one should have to suffer because they were born into poverty or because of a recent downfall. It should be in our human nature to be kind and considerate to all beings, therefore providing so everyone has an equal opportunity
ReplyDeleteOf course healthcare should be we right, but as we all know that isn't reality. People who have income/jobs are able to obtain health insurance, its a privelage to them. Though there is no universial health care yet, many people in maine are able to recieve mainecare or medicaid based on their daily income and age. Now this is a great thing, but lets be real, some people take advantage of it mostly pretaining to drugs and narcotics. If they have medical insurance it is easy to go to the ER say you have pain and get pain medication.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, American healthcare coverage is a privilege, however it should be a basic right. There are many different ways to fund money for this healthcare system, such as higher taxes (which most don't want, however if you get healthcare out of the deal is it really that bad?) or even raising the taxes on products coming into the country. Everyone should have basic healthcare, with yearly physicals, eye exams, and dentist visits so even those that are poor can learn how to take care of themselves no matter what situation they're in. Extending healthcare to all could end up with this country becoming healthier as a whole, which would be a very good thing. There could also be a private insurance for those wealthier that want more or less coverage, but we need to find a system to make sure that everyone receives at least the basics.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I believe healthcare should be a basic right for all people. Every person deserves the option of healthcare. I agree with a lot of what Rachael said, health care should be a national right, including yearly physicals and dental care atleast. The funding for this health care seems to be the major issue surrounding the topic, and increasing taxes might not sit well with a lot of people. There should be a system in place where a basic level of health care is available for all people and if you want to add on to these benefits, you have the option of investing in the private insurance companies.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel. Right now Health care is a privilege; however, it should be a basic right. The citizens of this country are promised life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If a person cannot have health care then in my opinion they are not being cheated out of one of the three major foundations of this country--life. Health care exits to prolong the life of an individual by maintaining overall health. Universal health care should exist for the benefit of all, but I am by no means confident of the present legislation making this happen. Just the same health care is a right that the government thus far has failed to protect. Privatized health care is not accessible for all, there for health care will stay a privilege until it is available to everyone--then and only then will it be a right.
ReplyDeleteI think that while health care certainly should be a right, making this happen in an efficient manner would be extremely difficult. Providing free health care to a large population has many obstacles. For example would it be possible to still keep the speed of treatmentss? For some procedures waiting a while would not be a problem, but obviously some illnesses require immediate treatment for any chance at success. It has been mentioned before but I think the best way to proceed, at least for the time being, would be to meet half way. A base level of free health care needs to be provided for the entire population, however the option should be available for those who have the ability to spend their money on additional care if they wish. The biggest problem I could see with this is making sure that the base level of free care maintains at a good standard, and that it doesn't deteriorate to something that is only marginally better than nothing at all.
ReplyDeleteThis is Terry Gauvin - Currently health insurance is a right for children under 18 whose parents do not have insurance and parents with little to no income (known as MaineCare), and for people over the age of 65 (known Medicare) all others health insurance is a privilege. I believe that health insurance should be a right to everyone who is a United States Citizen. We are currently giving health care to people who are illegal aliens who have never paid a single tax dollar to the United States. The problem with making this a right, is that it is a very expensive proposition. There needs to be some sort of basic coverage like Medicare with the ability to purchase additional coverage (supplemental insurance) if they choose to. Currently people on Medicare have the ability to purchase excess insurance coverage which ultimately ends up paying 100% of the medical bill in most cases. The government can not afford to cover everyone the way we currently are, but if the gave everyone basic coverage then at least there wouldn't be anybody without some sort of coverage.
ReplyDeleteI think that healthcare should be a right and availible to everyone. however, not everyone should be able to have the same coverage. as someone said earlier in post people can qualify for medicare and other sorts of healthcare coverage to pay for treatments. Often times those people do take advantage of the system the country has and ruins things for the people that are unable to afford or qualify for coverage. I personally believe we as a country need to go back from scratch and come up with a system that covers everyone or allows everyone the oppurtunity to have coverage but still have it private.
ReplyDeleteI believe that healthcare should be a right, and for most people it seems like it is. Many people are already offered state and government funded insurance policies (Maine Care, Mass Health, etc.). Also, many companies and employers reinforce health care options and policies to chose from. The only problem I see with health care not being a right is for the average middle class American for coverage and policies can become expensive as well as many medications that insurance companies do not feel are mandatory for a person to be taking. There needs to be more options for those who are pinching pennies for coverage through their work and state funded programs that they are not eligible for.
ReplyDeleteGood healthcare is not a citizen’s right. It is a privilege given to the people. You should not be forced to have it nor should it be given to everyone out of somebody else's pocket. The healthcare system in America today is not perfect. Insurance companies have too much freedom and power over how much they can charge as well as what and to whom they offer their services. This is why there have been issues with the costs of prescription drugs and the ridiculously high cost to have health insurance. The universal healthcare plan is not the answer to this solution. The government should force insurance companies to make more affordable plans as well as provide more jobs for the people so they can afford healthcare on their own. This way everyone is responsible for their own life and they will also have the opportunity to have some form of healthcare.
ReplyDeleteI think that right now our healthcare system is a privledge which is constantly abused by those who can afford it. I would like to one day see our country as a universal healthcare system, however I do not foreseeit in the near future, Which is unfortunate. It is a shame that the homeless and lower-class individuals cannot afford to have healthcare. Shouldnt everyone have the same opportunities for their health? why is one person's life less valuable than anothers in that they are not given equal opportunities? I agree that healthcare should become a right as a citizen but there should be some order to the system so that people do not abuse it.
ReplyDeleteHealth care is currently a privilege, and is working its way toward becoming a right through universal health care. Although i believe that health care should be a right for all citizens I do not feel that universal health care and the plan that is being developed is the correct way of going about doing this. Currently there are 30 million Americans who are unable to get health coverage. People can be charged more for preexisting conditions including obesity, diabetes, and being a victim of domestic violence. Clearly the current system is not what it should be. Health care should be right for all citizens, alongside the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
ReplyDeleteHealth care is both a right and a privilege. In a perfect world, everyone would have equal access to doctors and the services they provide. In a perfect world, everyone would have a home and enough food and clean water. In a perfect world, people wouldn’t want for anything; however, the world is not perfect. What the health care crisis boils down to, and what most people fail to realize, is that insuring hundreds of millions of people costs an exorbitant amount of money, money that we don’t have and money that people are not willing to give up. In a day and age when, more often than not, people are living paycheck to paycheck, raising taxes or charging the uninsured will only drive the destitute farther into financial crisis. What needs to be restructured is the system all-together; do away entirely with the idea that a person needs to be “insured” to receive care, a system that only feeds into the pockets of insurance company CEOs, and put that money directly into a government-run health care system. Until this happens, until any sense of privatization of medical services has been eradicated, health care will remain more of a privilege than a right.
ReplyDeleteI think that health care today can be a combination of both a right and a privledge. I feel that there are certain people in this world who are going to abuse the right that they are given making me feel that it should not be readily available to everyone. The other side of things is that there are those people who do all they can but its not always enough. There is no right or wrong answer but I feel that it should be able to go both ways allowing for different situations to be looked at in different ways.
ReplyDeleteI think that basic health care should be a citizen's right, not a privilege. Currently, health care is a privilege and those who cannot afford decent insurance find themselves picking and choosing which ailment is necessity and what sort of cold will be serious enough to go to the doctors. I think that it's sad. I would like to see availability of services and medications/vaccinations available to most people, but unfortunately i don't see that happening anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteI believe that healthcare should be a right for all citizens. Everyone deserves the right to be healthy and happy regardless of how much you can afford. Unfortuntately, that is not the case in the country we currently live in. The healthcare system in the US is supportive of those who can pay for the services. If you do not have the money to pay for them then the service that you do get is often of minimal service or inadequate coverage/quality. It is my hope that someday good quality healthcare will be available to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI believe that health care is seen as a privilege in the US, but that it should be a basic right for all citizens. Health care should be available to people of all classes, and in a perfect world it would be. Unfortunately health care has become a very large business in the US and is very profitable for insurance companies. With so many people being neglected by the current privatized health care system, health care has become a privilege of the wealthy. All citizens are entitled to health care, and even though there are major flaws in the current plans for universal health care, they are definitely a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI believe that healthcare in the United States should, above all else, be considered a privilege. Like many of the repsonses above, I believe that many of the United States population takes advantage of the healtchare that is provided to them. Those who can afford it will many times abuse it. The healthcare in our nation could be used for so many more things than it is currently used for, and the the money that it makes could be used in a much more positive fashion. The less fortunate could benefit from what healthcare companies provide, however, the money flowing through these healthcare companies is never brought back out. But I can see and do beleive that efforts are trying to be made to reduce these situations from further occuring. But for now I hope we can appreciate the steps being made to reduce it a little at a time..
ReplyDeleteI believe that healthcare in the US is a privilege, but should also be considered a right. All people should have the right to live happy and healthy lives and this could be found through a generic base plan healthcare that all people in the US should be able to have. However like most things in the US money can speak volumes, so in that case the wealthier people can have access to a better more beneficial healthcare programe that they pay for.
ReplyDeleteHealth care is a human right. Unfortunately for low or moderate income families or individuals, it is simply not an option, surpassed by more important issues such as food, rent, etc...Premiums from insurance companies or the deductions from company health care policies would not leave these families with the money to live. Sadly it is these individuals that show up in the ER in later stages of a severe illness, undoubtedly facing a huge medical bill rather than an office visit rate. Universal health care should exist so that everyone may benefit from proper care.
ReplyDeleteI believe that basic healthcare should be a right even though right now it is mearly a privilege. Every person should have the right to get access to the treatments they need to become healthy again. Today medical expenses are extremely expensive and there are many people who cannot afford the care they need. In my opinion, every US citizen should have basic universal healthcare. No one should have to worry about not being able to get treated at a hospital because they cannot afford it.
ReplyDeleteI feel healthcare should be a privilege and a right. It is should be a right, because as Sarah said, no one should worry about getting treated or getting medications they need due to the inability to afford it. I did not realize how big of a problem this was until I followed one of the Doctors at UHC. 90% of the patients that came in said they should be on medications but are not on them due to cost. It is sad. It should also be seen as a privilege because once something is a mandated people take advantage of it. Healthcare should not be something taken advantage of. Just because it is available does not mean people have the right to belittle or swamp the medical field
ReplyDeleteI also feel that healthcare should be a right. Everyone should be able to have to have some kind of basic care including perscriptions, physicals, and emergency care so they don't have to worry if they will be covered and put thier health at risk. However, I also believe it should be a privelege too. There are many people who take advantage of the healthcare system and that's not fair for the people who really need it. So I feel there should be some stipulations or some lines should be drawn in order to keep people from using and abusing the system.
ReplyDeleteHealthcare is a right that all humans should be given. It is unfortunate that the way our current healthcare system is run that many Americans go without this important right. In only a few days of class, it has become clear that many of our current issues in health are sociological and come in patterns based on the society you live in. They are not random and are not always due to faults in the self. They are due to our culture and the "American way of life." The ability to afford healthcare is not something that the average human should have to worry about and cause additional stress. It should be a right that all humans should possess.
ReplyDeleteLike most of the comments I scanned as i scrolled down, I have to agree that health care should be available to everyone regardless of their income or social status. However it is very unfortunate that this is not the case. I'm not exactly sure on the statics of people with insurance in the US and without but I was currently in Peru over winter break and learned that 80% of the people of Peru are provided with health care services of some sort. Unfortunately it's that 20% of the people that need it the most. However if it there were more of them without health care then more of them would need it. It really is a shame that health care isn't more easily accessible not only for 3rd world countries but also for people here in the U.S. Since most of us are in the health field we are aware of the benefits of being healthy and staying healthy. Maybe if everyone had access to health care than our economy would improve because our people are doing well. maybe we wouldn't have so many people in poverty....
ReplyDeleteI believe that everyone should be entitled to healthcare in this country and throughout the world. I also understand that there are already several programs that are in place to ensure that those who do not have jobs or are low income can be provided with health insurance. While other people simply choose not to spend their money on health insurance for personal reasons. For this reason, I think it should be a person's choice or in a way a privilege rather, to choose whether or not they have health insurance. And for those who do not even have the ability to choose because they are income less, the government should provide them with the subsidy or funds or entitlement to have healthcare. People know before they choose to get a career or go through school that health insurance costs money. And based on this, they should approach whatever career they choose knowing that they will have part of their income paid to insurance.
ReplyDeleteI don’t, however, think it should be managed ENTIRELY by our government and funded by our tax dollars. Too many people take advantage of government programs and the government continues to do a poor job at regulating these issues.
Additionally, I have spoken with family members who live overseas, and in their country they have universal healthcare. Everything is free for them. Now I have family members that are considered to be in the upper and the lower classes. They both have come to a consensus that the healthcare system over there does not work for them. Since everybody has access, and there are not enough doctors to go around, no matter what, somebody is not receiving the medical care they need. As well, they noted that the quality of healthcare significantly reduces because the doctors are not getting paid nearly enough for the amount of straining work they perform. It ultimately forces individuals to seek private healthcare facilities that make them pay an arm and a leg for quality healthcare while those who can’t afford it become lodged in the same predicament they originated with.
Universal or not it still ends up becoming a privilege.
Like many of the previous comments, I believe that health care for everyone, no matter how much money they make, or skin color, is a basic right not a privilidge. Unfortunately, as we have been learning in class, healthcare in our society is a priviledge. Based on what rank of the social ladder you are born on, plays a huge factor in determining what level of health care you will receive. Those who don't make a lot of money, can't pay the money for health insurance, and can't afford to go to the doctor. I feel like in the United states, we should be able to make it so that there can be healthcare for everyong.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone should be able to have some sort of health care but like many things in life I feel like that privileged should be able to be revoked from the people who misuse the system.
ReplyDelete