It’s a big
topic these days and I wanted to weigh in on the matter because I like to weigh
in on stuff. In my, ever so humble,
opinion none of the healthcare debate currently happening in the hallowed halls
of Washington DC has much of anything to do with bringing down the cost of
healthcare. What is being debated is do
we cover everybody? And if we do what is
the best way to do that?
Whether we
decide to do that or not there will be costs involved…either way. The question is should everyone be
covered? Is it as Bernie Sanders says, “A
human right in a civilized society?” So
far in America we have said, “No, it is not a right.”
We have let
insurance companies exclude people with pre-existing conditions. That right there a long standing policy
saying, “Healthcare is not a right.” It
is well known that the number one reason for bankruptcy in America is due to
medical expense.[1] What is less well known is that the number
two and three reasons could very well be linked to the number one reason. Numbers two and three are reduced income and
job loss which you might likely have if you are too sick and can’t do your
job. So if healthcare leads many
families into bankruptcy we can hardly say we have a system where healthcare is
a right…right?
Should
everyone be covered? WWJD (What Would
Jesus Do)? Well, Jesus did heal some
sick people, but he didn’t set up a clinic and have everyone pass by all day
long so he could heal their infirmities.
It cannot be debated though that Jesus did try to help people and that
he commanded us to help people. What
does that mean for us though, not as individuals, but as a society?
What are the
costs of not covering everyone? Well, we
already know we have a lot of bankruptcies. We have a lot of people that die
years before they should. We have
millions with chronic conditions that can’t work or can’t work effectively. So that means more unemployment benefits,
more people on SNAP (what people think of as food stamps). It means people with pre-existing conditions that
might get treated largely won’t because they can’t afford it. So they continue on with torn rotator cuffs,
degenerative bone diseases, cancer, and more.
Obamacare
did not cover everyone. Trumpcare will
not cover everyone either. What does
your faith and your ethics (which are hopefully based in your faith) say about
the issue?
My question
is should make sure that everyone has good, quality health coverage that they
can afford? My answer is yes. What is your answer?
