People talk about a “Right” to healthcare, which does not actually exist in the Constitution. So, perhaps they mean a “moral Right” rather than a legal Right? And as a country whose inception was a declaration of independence that spoke of human Rights, and whose laws include a Bill of Rights, they may well have a point.
… or Health Insurance?
But Obamacare, in no way, helped anyone get healthcare. It simply made obtaining health insurance easier for low income earners. And then the huge deductibles, co-pays and ever increasing premiums meant that even the middle class could no longer afford to actually use the insurance. Only the wealthy could afford to actually go to the doctor, pay out of pocket until the annual deductible is met and pay the co-pays. All those huge monthly premiums fattened the health company’s executive bonuses, and meant the middle class could not save for retirement or their children’s college education!
Hasn’t any Democrat politician figured out that access to health insurance does not mean access to health care?
And what about Responsibility… to try to live a healthy lifestyle?
Even if we, as a country, accept that there is a moral right to access to healthcare, at the same time, we cannot ignore the responsibilities that accompany rights. You have a right to free speech, but you still can’t yell “fire!” in a crowded movie theater. You have a right to bear arms… but you are expected to not leave a loaded gun laying around where a child could get hold of it.
Specifically, you have a responsibility to try to live a healthy lifestyle. And that should be an absolute prerequisite to obtaining any form of subsidized health insurance or health care!
To expect people who follow their doctor’s recommendations, and common sense, who exercise, maintain a health weight, don’t smoke, don’t do drugs, drink in moderation, get vaccinations, and regular check ups to pay a tax or inflated premiums in order to provided cheaper healthcare to people who did not do the same in absolutely insane. And immoral.
To use the government force to take money from my family, hurting our ability to retire, send our kids to college, or even put a roof over our heads so fat, lazy, smoking slobs can get cheaper heart by-cases, so their fat, lazy, self-indulgent carcasses can live another 6 months is morally WRONG!
A sensible, sustainable solution
… is what we need. There isn’t enough money to provide affordable health insurance and affordable healthcare to everyone who wants or needs it. Not in a society with epidemic levels of self-inflicted obesity, smoking, vaping, drug use, alcohol abuse and a failure to even try to get regular exercise. Of course, people born with ailments, diseases, disorders, birth defects and genetic diseases should be given an exception. But not those whose medical ailments are the consequence of their own actions and choices.
If we make access to subsided healthcare a mandate, within 1 generation, we will have a much healthier society… and… greatly reduced healthcare costs!
Tell your senator or congressman; you want subsidies and taxpayer provided handouts tied to the recipients maintaining a healthy lifestyle!