Blog #2 Healthcare Access: Right or Privilege?

Blog #2 Healthcare Access: Right or Privilege?

After reading the question, “Do you believe that access to healthcare is a right or a privilege?” I found myself unsure as to which side I was for. The question seems simple to answer and I was sure that I knew the answer right away. After further consideration I decided to first define “right” and “privilege”. According to American Heritage Dictionary, a right is defined as, “That which is just, morally good, legal, proper, or fitting” and privilege as, “a right or advantage gained by birth, social position, effort, or concession.”

I agree that free healthcare access should be a right and a privilege. It should be a right in the sense that you are born with the right to the healthcare access. Children should have the right because they are not asked to born into a certain type of family, so they should be given an opportunity to add to society. However, once they turn 18 they must now attend college or work somewhere in order to continue receiving health benefits. By doing this people would be contributing to society, thus making a better economy and country in my opinion. If you fail to maintain a job or attend school then your healthcare access will be taken away. As for people already over 18, they should maintain a job as well. Of course, there would be certain stipulations, such as if you were born with a handicap, extreme disease or disorder, etc. disabling them from working or attending college. I also would like to keep the Medicare for adults over 65 years of age. I do not think that healthcare should be based on income because not all people have the means to certain jobs. I know that this may seem harsh but I feel everyone should do their part.

Canada has a great program where everyone can receive a healthcare card. I believe that this program has many benefits but also comes with problems. Doctors from Canada end up coming to the states because they make more money and there is longer wait for doctors, MRI’s, Ct scans. Because of these reasons I feel that if everyone has a right to healthcare access in the states that we will soon see the same problems.

References:

Right. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Retrieved January 27, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Right

Privilege. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Retrieved January 27, 2007, from Dictionary.com website:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/privilege