Is healthcare a human right?

Question

Lynx122 · Accepted Answer

To me it's absolutely a right.

I can explain the system I'm in right now. In Switzerland everybody has to be insured if you have no money you have to go to a welfare office do a bunch of paperwork and they will pay for your health insurance. The insurance companies are private but they have very strict laws they can't just deny claims or things like they do in the U. S. but they do try and influence things over time I think it has gotten worse they're trying to cover less things and fiddle with things. I think it's still a good system I think it ranked #1 in the world in some rankings but I think it would benefit from a government insurance option, or a full takeover of the insurance by the government. It would save a lot of work for the doctors admin because they would only have 1 insurer instead of having to work with different insurance companies that have different systems how the bills get paid etc. It would also elminate the profit necessity of the insurance companies. It would have a lot of benefits. But the care itself is really good it's mostly private but it's pretty cheap with your insurance so you get choice and quality for a relatively low price. Well the bill when you go is low the insurance cost can be pretty high depending on what you want. I've been happy with my treatment during my life so far.

The benefits for the economy are also often overlooked you can't have a productive workforce when people don't get treatment when they need it. And the life expectancy in Switzerland is 10 years higher than in the U. S. so those are mostly poor and middle class people that are dying young and it could have been prevented that are pulling that number down. And you have to keep in mind the U. S. system is still the most expensive system in the world while letting people die. That's just insane.

I just think it's hard to buy into a society when they tell you from the start we're gonna let you die and not think twice about it if you get sick and don't have a lot of money. That's not a very good basis of trust to build on. You know something that everyone can believe in, feel good and valued in the most basic way.

That's probably why there's a bunch of antagonistic, out for themselves and even agressive people who comment here sometimes. Because they don't feel like anybody has their back so they're ready to throw anybody under the bus as well. They think someone who actually believes in a system that helps everybody is naiive and dumb and getting tricked by evil leftists.

When you have healthcare you don't feel that way. You feel relaxed and optimistic about the future. You know that all the money you have in the bank is yours to keep and you can plan what you want to do with it. Invest it, go on a holiday, buy a new PC, go partying whatever. It's easy to budget because you're not going to have unexpected expenses. It makes you feel free I guess.

I hope what I wrote was helpful in some way. If you have any questions I will answer :)

Astarlessnightsky · Accepted Answer

As a german i can tell you its not perfect, lots of doctors and nurses missing. Espacially in more rural areas you don't have access to doctors and ambulance may take a while to get to you.

Nurses are overworked and the nurse to patient ratio is one of the highest across the EU, even worsened during and after covid. One Nurse has to take care of ~17 patients.

Also some less important drugs are rare, eg. everything for kids its hard to find, but who cares about kids, they can't vote yet...

You also have to wait about 3 months for therapy (unless its an urgent lifethreatening situation, like suicidal) But after this 3months wait you are guarenteed a therapy.

BUT, no one is in debt for medical bills. You can go to any doctor and your highest bill may be the parking ticket.

You can go to any doctor and the health insurance will cover it.

Calling an Ambulance will be free if its an emergency, or a few bucks if you call it if there isn't an emergency. (ingrown toe nail eg.)

Around Easter my wife woke up in pain, we drove to the hospital, spent 5 hours there, including painkiller infusion, urine tests, ultrasonic examine, and we had to pay 7€ for parking and 1,50€ for snacks.

Also my wife couldn't work for the last 1,5 years and health insurance paid 70% of her regular salary the whole time.

Also health insurance just paid 2000€ TWICE for special custom tailored medical compression stockings, pants and sleeves, all we had to do is call the insurance company and all they asked was which colour we want. Nothing extra on our side.

sheikalana · Accepted Answer

It should definitely be a right and accessible to everyone. But as we all can see if more of a privilege.

MGTK7 · Accepted Answer

In my country (France), people who are below a certain income have free healthcare.

monorprise · Answer

As a right must exist in the state of nature, and there is nobody to provide the "healthcare" service, it is by definition a service/privilege not a natural right.

Some politicians like to declare services as a "legal right" in referring to the very different concept of being correct in terms of your trade dispute. Which then came to be known as a "legal right" and even confused with the idea of natural right for linguistic reasons.

But in this regard no human innately can be presumed to have a right to any other human's services having not mutually agreed to provide the same.

b_lova · Answer

It's a privilege. Do I wish it was otherwise. Of course I do, but doctors put a lot of effort into learning how to heal and I don't have the right to force them to help me.

The real problem is do insurance companies have the right to rob us all when they don't do anything but take our money and drive up the cost so I can't afford to pay the doctor.

We have villanized the wrong people.

PS I don't think the government should be involved in my healthcare at all, just creates more opportunities for financial waste which typically ends up in the hands of insurance companies.

Unit1 · Answer

Oh man, our healthcare in Germany is something else.

As soon as I fled back to my homeland (at 27 years old and borrowing some money for my escape) I got myself multiple medical appointments and surgeries and hospital stays from head to toe. I literally arrived in Germany with a corset supporting my back and carrying 30KG of my belongings. I hardly paid for any medical treatment. Even my antidepressants are covered by the insurance. It's really a must have.

All this is great and fancy and all. But try enlisting in with a psychotherapist. The waiting time for that is 3 months and by that time I will forget why I signed up for it.

loveslongnails · Answer

If you pay taxes, you certainly have a right to decent healthcare. If you live in a decent nation that gives a shit about its people, even if you can't afford to pay taxes, you still have a right to certain basic healthcare. A decent and smart nation would train qualified candidates to be doctors, nurses, specialists, health professionals, USING tax dollars and having them commit to "X" years of service in places where the need is greatest, and walking away with no debt.

Neither health care nor education should be "for profit" industries. I suppose some right-wing dingbats will start crying "but that's socialism, or communism", or some bullshit, but that's to be expected from non-thinkers.

RetroReviews · Answer

In the west we are very privileged and don't appreciate what we have thinking about all the people in third world countries that don't have health care at all don't have the basic necessities or starving to death. When you look at the big picture we are spoiled, entitled and unappreciative

OfMiceandMen · Answer

I think it should remain a privilege and there should be a minor cost associated with it. If it's totally free, which it is in Canada (for the most part) it becomes a haven for hypochondriacs which go in for a stubbed toe making it extremely difficult to see a your own doctor or an emergency doctor as it ties them up for hours and hours.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

It depends on how you define a right. I'd say it's a right, but that doesn't mean it should be free. You have a right to free speech, but nobody has to provide the means to speak. You have a right to the press, but that doesn't mean the press is provided for you. Same with health care. You have a right to it, but it's not free. Nobody is under any obligation to pay for it. Like anything else, if you can't afford it, you do without.

NamerOfStars · Answer

Demonstrably, no- but it's not a privilege, either. It's a service- something you buy and pay for. Something being government-funded doesn't change that; it just spreads the costs around.

You can also argue that it SHOULD be a human right- but as it stands, it definitely isn't. Not here in the US, and not anywhere else, for that matter.

exitseven · Answer

It is neither Not e erybody gets to have a Cadillac and not everyone can go to Florida for vacation. If you work hard and prioritize Healthcare it is available. I remember when most people did not have health insurance. If you we t to the doctor, you paid for the services after the visit. Why does everyone want everything for free? Nothing is free, there is always somebody that gets stuck with the bill

DarkWinterNights · Answer

I think most people are confused as to what constitutes a “human right”. Free speech is a right. Self defense is a right. Free will is a right. As a society we can place restrictions on some peoples right if they infringe on others. But the process is taken very seriously. Which is why the justice system being impartial and “blind” is the basis of modern civilization. A good rule of thumb is if the “right” requires someone else to give their time, services or money- than it is not a right.

Anonymous · Answer

I do think there should be a base level of Healthcare yes. How can you call yourself a developed country and not. It even says in the US constitution "promote the general welfare" but there's a difference between general care and cutting edge expensive medicine. I think we should have two tiered medical system (so to speak) call it socialized medicine if you like. But it takes care of most basic care. And if you can afford it. You can spend your own money for more total plans.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Pretty much everything that people consider "rights" are actually privileges. If it's something that can be taken away at any moment, it's not a right. The only "rights" we have are our God given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

slatyb · Answer

It has to be provided by other people, so it can't really be a right. A country could decide that they will provide health care to everyone -- they will then have to pay a wage to medical practitioners sufficient to attract people to do the work.

JesseP1nk · Answer

It's a privilege. Sure its free aslong you have work but but it takes a long time to get help. In Estonia we dont have enough doctors. Neighbouring countries "steal" our doctors with bigger salaries. For example we pay for student scholarships, after they graduate then the move to Finland for bigger salary.

strateguy632 · Answer

of course not, everyone PAYS insurance not a right.  but you realy intended "Abortion" but that does NOT HEAL any illness so not real health care.

AviatorTom · Answer

It's a privilege. If someone abuses their body and doesn't take care if it, they have no right to healthcare.

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

You have the right to not get shot by the state for no reason while walking down the street. You have no right to another person's labor.

Dargil · Answer

Healthcare is a survival plan. Nobody owes it to you. It's not even a privilege. It must be paid for.

itsclearlynicholas · Answer

I guess the US Supreme Court would know that answer? I don't know, law varies from country to country and I can't keep up with all the world's courts lol

DrPepper12 · Answer

Everyone is entitled to health care, food, clothing, shelter and the opportunity to work at a job that can provide those things. UBI is the way. UHC is the way. Affordable housing is the way.

Is healthcare a human right?

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