Healthcare: Right or Privilege

Many people feel that although the United States leads most of the world in medical advances and technology, the healthcare system is broken because a great number of people go without care they desperately need, due to lack of adequate insurance. The dilemma of healthcare as a right or a privilege has been the latest issue facing Americans across the nation. Public proposals of universal healthcare for every citizen have been the focus of much political debate. Everyone is ready for change, but people are unsure of how this change should be approached. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the ethical principles of autonomy and justice as they relate to healthcare, and to explore the theory of Communitarianism in relation to insurance coverage for every American.

Autonomy, or the right to choose, is a principle valued by the American society. When it comes to healthcare, agency is vital in promoting self-reliance among citizens. People should have the right to choose what doctor they would like to see, and to make decisions regarding their own personal health. Autonomy puts people in charge of their own bodies and allows them to seek health care as they deem necessary. Thus it can be argued that under the principle of autonomy, everyone should have the right to choose whether or not to have insurance, regardless of the outcome.

Allowing people to have complete autonomy in terms of healthcare leaves something to be desired in the way of justice. Children do not have the right to choose an insurance plan for themselves, and many parents do not want or qualify for insurance. Clearly, justice for these children and others in a similar situation demands a health insurance plan that covers them, even if their parents choose not to be covered.

Putting vulnerable people such as children first follows the theory of Communitarianism. In doing what is best for the community as a whole, healthcare should be offered at an affordable rate for everyone, but especially for those who may not qualify for Medicaid, and cannot pay for private insurance. Everyone should still pay taxes as a community, but the vulnerable populations such as children, the poor, and low middle class need to have options if they do not qualify for government insurance.

In order to promote self reliance and autonomy, while still being just and attending to the needs of the community as a whole, public policy should be reformed to allow citizens a way to pay for insurance that will adequately cover them. Health insurance should not be forced on people. Public policy should be introduced to regulate insurance to provide better coverage. Those who are poor or low middle class could have a private insurance subsidized by the government. Offering options in health insurance to all Americans would result in a system where every individual had access to health care as their right and privilege.