I have heard some say that healthcare is a right while others respond that they disagree. No matter how passionately both sides state their points, the other side is not convinced. Perhaps, both sides are focusing on the wrong question.
Perhaps, we should ask: Does society have a moral obligation to provide healthcare for those who need it, and if so, what is the nature of the coverage?
Most would agree that it would be immoral to simply pass by someone who is dying without at least calling 911. Pretending not to notice does not relieve one of the moral obligation to assist. In terms of healthcare, there are many good people who get sick through no fault of their own. For example, if someone develops a curable cancer, can we agree that it is wrong to let this person simply die? We are our brother's keeper, and we have a moral obligation not to pretend otherwise.
In addition, if someone has a preventable condition, does society really need to wait for the person to get sick before offering support? Not only is preventive care usually more effective and likely less costly, but it also seems immoral to knowingly watch people fall into a preventable situation.
On the other hand, if someone wants a non-essential treatment such as nose job, I feel no moral obligation to pay. Whoever wants a nose job can pay for it themselves.
Most of healthcare exists between these two extremes. The question we need to debate is not if healthcare is a right, but instead, what is the extent of our moral obligation. Where should we draw the line between rightfully helping someone in need and inappropriately paying for something the individual should pay for himself? I do not have the answers, but I do believe society has a moral obligation to provide some sort of health insurance for all its citizens who can not afford it. That should be the starting point of the healthcare debate before arguing about how it should be done and what is and is not covered. Even if individuals do not have a right to healthcare, we as a society have a moral obligations that should not be ignored.
