jcasablanca

Thank you bu for your insightful, well thoughout answer. It is fascinating to hear an alternative view of a nationalized health care system. When I am faced with this question I have a difficult time being all for one or the other. I believe health care is not a commodity such as food and housing. It is easier to budget for food and housing, one has a general idea of what it will cost you at any given time. However, health care under the current system in the US is not something you can budget for. One can live and choose to do all the right things, but can not change their genetics. (And one can choose to spend every waking moment at Dunkin Donuts-because they taste good) However, catastrophic illness can strike at anytime. If your insurance plan only covers 80%, you are still responisble for 20%, which can cause financial ruin with one hospitalization. In the past, one could be uninsurable if they had pre-existing conditions. Back to right or priviledge- I would like to believe that everyone has the right to a minimum amount of care, but who decides what is a minimum, I do not have the answer for that. In this age of the shrinking health care dollar difficult decisions are going to have to be made. Should the US move towards "universal health care" and if so how do we pay for it. As an interesting side note the World Health Organization reported that the US spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product on health care but ranks 37 out 191 countries studied (There has been quite abit of negative press written about the actual ranking system) But, the fact remains that the US does spend more and the outcomes are not always better than other countries that spend less. So, maybe the argument should be less about right or privledge and more about how to provide quality cost effective care that is affordable for all (including the government).......lets hear it for Nurse Managed Healthcare Centers. (And no I am not an NP, nor am I planning on that educational pathway)

Thank you, but may I further clarify. The actual assignment is to post a question using social media with the responses used during a class debate. With the advent of social media, the world has become very small, allowing interaction between individuals who may have never had that opportunity. Participation is not doing "other peoples' homework". It gives you a chance to weigh in on as you described "an interesting topic". It generates additional questions such as is health care an actual commodity, as described above. Posted responses from individuals working in countries who have nationalized health care is an invaluable insight that I may not have had access too. (The problems in the UK health care system are the same problems the US will encounter as the health care dollar shrinks.) So, the participation of everyone is greatly appreciated and will help to illuminate this difficult topic.

This is a current discussion topic for a masters class. Is health care a right or privilege? What do you think? What do you think about the Affordable Care Act? Do we need universal health care? The answers to these questions will be used during a debate in a Nursing Ethics and Policy course. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

This question came up during a class discussion. In light of diminishing health care resources, who is responsible for one's health. Is health care a "right" or a "privilege". I would really appreciate your reply, the answers will be used during a debate. Thanks