3 Comments November 29th, 2008

Is general health care a right?

GRONDESNESEN asked:


I recently heard someone talking about the health care issue and they seemed to think that it was their right to be provided with free health care. Although that would be nice, I don’t think I think it’s a right, not to mention it wouldn’t really be free.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 29th, 2008 at 9:29 am and is filed under Health Care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 Responses to “Is general health care a right?”

  1. Lisa Says:
    November 30th, 2008 at 10:28 am

    Other countries have free health care so why doesn’t the US? I think it’s our right to have that. Maybe start putting caps on what doctors charge for services and put limits on malpractice suits as well. That will lower the cost and make it more affordable.

  2. heyteach Says:
    December 1st, 2008 at 10:21 pm

    You are correct on both points. However, in the States, we do not have a free market for health care and that is wrong. Too much government screwing around and too much illicit garbage via the handful of big insurers. In the pockets where those two elements are held at bay, health care is quite affordable and accessible. Check out LASIK, plastic surgery, the walk-in clinics which meet most peoples’ needs (sprains, upper respiratory infections, vaccinations, etc.) where you get in and out in a reasonable amount of time for under $100, etc.

    We SHOULD clean up the mess we have because it’s unfair and the most vulnerable are having their health ruined, being bankrupted, or even dying from what is just flat out abuse by those who get the lion’s share of the profits in the field without even treating patients (large insurers and predatory lenders).

    You might want to check these things out as it’s a hot topic and we do need to fix things:

    Predatory lenders who are dishonest to boot:

    United Health Care’s scandals:

    Sensible plan (not the blurb, the PDF and lots more good info and ideas in the book itself):

  3. Health Blogger Says:
    December 2nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    I think it’s very hard to sympathize with those who struggle with issues of health care if you have coverage with a large employer.

    I certainly felt the way you do…until my husband left his job and his insurance policy. Now, finding affordable health insurance and health care is a major issue for our family and a constant struggle.

    Many hard-working, self-employed middle class persons would simply like to be insured in the first place, or be able to walk into a doctor’s office for routine checkups without knowing it will cost them hundreds of dollars they cannot afford.

    Our health care system is in bad need of reform. When most people hear about this subject, they automatically think “Hillary” and nationalized health care. That doesn’t need to happen. But our next election is critical in determining whether we DO something about it, or simply continue to have health costs spiral out of control.

    I blogged about the major candidates stands on health care reform – - and you can read more for yourself. There are many ideas out there, not just nationalized health care, that can present positive answers to the problem.