Healthcare Reform?
Shouldn’t everyone have the right to health care? I certainly think so. With 47 million Americans going without health insurance, (according to the U.S. Census Bureau), a change is obviously needed. The Institute of Medicine reports every industrialized country except the United States has adopted that universal health care. It is also provided in many developing countries. Even though almost every other country successfully provides universal health care America has yet to do so. The twenty seventh amendment of the U.S constitution states that “…nor shall any state deprive any person of life.” Yet all of America has apparently never read the 14th amendment since there’s currently no public option in health care. The republican side argues that they don’t want the government involved in something as important as health care. One would think that the ideal system to trust would be the government, a non-profit option, but apparently not. “I want the right to choose my doctor.” is often used as a reason not to move towards mandated universal health care, reform and a public option. However in his health care address to the nation on September 10th, President Obama specifically stated that everyone would be able to keep his or her current doctors.
One might argue that a public option would impair the free market but if a public option proves to be successful it is actually a perfect example of the free market at work. If consumers like the public option better it is all part of the free market competition and if the other private insurance companies go out of business it’s their fault for not rising to the competition, lowering prices, or improving service. Ultimately, there is no good philosophical reason that people should pay an extra 20 percent for marketing and advertising and corporate profit.
About half of all bankruptcy filings in the United States are due to medical expenses (says health affairs journal 2005). Often these people actually have health insurance, but inadequate or dishonest insurance. While these people are suffering to keep their homes, Ron Williams the C.E.O of Aetna is making 24,300,112 dollars a year. With the public option those people would have the choice of health care and could avoid bankruptcies. Since the government runs option is motivated by the good will of the people, corruption wouldn’t be an issue.
Let me give an example from my own family life that shows the indefensible and ridiculous position of the for profit health insurer. My older brother has autism. A disease that affects communication. Aetna and then blue cross denied my brother speech therapy, because they said,” he doesn’t speak, so he doesn’t need speech therapy. “ This is not the position of a company that cares about people’s wellbeing. It is common that pre-existing conditions can even prevent people who could potentially afford insurance from getting it.
Ultimately, both sides are not equal. America is still the richest country in the world.
We provide military protection, public education, highways, police protection, and an impartial justice system to our citizens. Likewise we should provide basic health care.
Deuteronomy tells us that the poor shall always be with us and therefore we must get used to it and take care of them. It is not a crime to be poor in America, so why should
The poor be punished with little or no health care.
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