In my opinion I believe healthcare is a right because this would allow people that are not able to attain health insurance seek health care. In the book New Dimensions in Women’s Health, discusses how some countries, which include Canada and the United Kingdom offer their citizens healthcare. Even minimal health care would prevent many complications people develop because the lack of health care access due to low income and lack of insurance (Alexander et al, 2007). Having access to health care should not be difficult for those who are uninsured, in a sense it is discrimination toward the population who does not have health insurance.
The only reason I have health insurance is because my mom has worked for a company for over 15 years and she is able to have my dad, 15 year old brother, and myself under her coverage. However, I will be taken off as soon as I turn 24 years old, which is this September. This has brought about so much stress on me. Since my 21 year old brother did not remain in school he was automatically taken off. It seems when you don’t have insurance the worst things happen. My brother was beat up by several men and had to be hospitalized in the emergency room. At the time my brother did not have a job and had this huge bill. Later on he suffered of an ear infection that was so painful he had to go to the hospital once more and it just added to his bill.
Now, my brother has a job that offers health insurance, however he was not able to add his girlfriend on it because they are not legally married and have not lived together long enough. She found out she was pregnant, however, she did not have health insurance and sadly she lost the baby not too long ago. Finally, neither my boyfriend nor his family members have insurance, which I am afraid one day they will need.
It is evident this issue is something that hits close to home, and I feel there is a great need for a healthcare reform. Everyone should have some kind of access to healthcare, which would undoubtedly better the overall health of the population.
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I do agree with you in saying that EVERYONE should have access to at least healtcare. It is terrible and unfortunate what happen within your family and everyone who is without medical access is at risk. Our Nation has to do something about this ever growing issue.
ReplyDeleteDiscrimination is a good word to describe those who can't afford healthcare. Instead of color or sex, it targets wealthy or poor. Even our middle class get's drug down when it comes to healthcare. I have a friend that lost her home when her 21 year old daughter had a baby that was born with no brain, only a brain stem. There was nothing that could be done after the baby was born, but all the tests during the pregnancy and care of a young mother who wouldn't choose abortion because of her religious beliefs, financially ruined this family.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, access to health care is a right and not a privilege. Reading about what happened to your brothers, and considering that everyone is equally susceptible to health problems (whether illness, accidents, and/or disease) serves to further convince me that the U.S. needs to get on the ball with health care reform.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the same thing happened to me: when I turned 23 I immediately lost the health insurance I had enjoyed under my mom's coverage. I'm almost 28 and I consider myself insanely lucky to have good health, although I have not been to the ophthalmologist since I was 21 so I have had the same ratty pair of glasses for almost 7 years. I really hope our government can get over its allergy to universal health care soon, and at the very least, consider setting up some low-cost health care facilities across the country.