Health Care, Health, and Justice - Part 4 (final): Health care as a human right

Universal Health Care (health care as a human right)

There are different definitions and degrees of universal health care, but I use it here to mean a national single-payer system that affords everyone equal financial access to comprehensive health services. This is really the only option that truly decreases health care costs because of less fragmentation and oversight of rules, and it is the one option that provides care for all.

HMOs, PPOs, HSAs, and nearly ever other health care option in the U.S. are generally market-based and for-profit. But market-based and for-profit models do not concern themselves with correcting inequalities or distributing services equally. In these models, as one author has well stated, inequities in health are unfortunate but not unjust. Some simply are winners and some simply are losers. The free-market does not negate the ability of people to be altruistic, but neither does it impose a moral duty to help. The free-market does not have time or patience for those who cannot "play" in the market—the uninsured or the poor.

The Bible argues powerfully for the dignity of all people and for their restoration, life, and healing. Promotion of justice is a clear theme throughout the Bible, and the needs of others are not to be taken lightly in view of the inherent value placed on all people. As one well-regarded religious ethicist has stated, "Justice in the Bible is unmistakably committed to the restoration of health."

Comments

[Nathan]

Thanks for the comment.

In fact, I think a lot more people view health care this way than we might sometimes think. But, one of the biggest barriers to real change is the very powerful health insurance lobby. Also, there are some myths about what univeral health care means and doesn't mean, and some who think that such a system would create longer waits to see a doctor, and would somehow result in poorer health care. But, the evidence just isn't there. Universal health care would be better for everyone. For a new and well-written report about the U.S. health care system and possible changes, see this.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=698139

[h.e.g.]

Amen. If only more people looked at health care this way!