Health care, a right or a commodity?

In 1961, President Ronald Reagan addressed the American Medical Association, warning America about the dangers of socialized health care: “One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. It’s very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project. Most people are a little reluctant to oppose anything that suggests medical care for people who possibly can’t afford it,” but human welfare is “simply an excuse to bring about what [Democrats and liberals] wanted all the time: socialized medicine.”

The question of whether or not to socialize health care is an important, if not the most important, domestic issue under debate. Some view health care as a government entitlement, while others view it as a regular commodity. Some believe government should have total authority over health care; others believe in private competition, with an unfettered market of supply and demand. Health care reform is a controversial subject, one that is complex and emotional, and a barrier among voters and politicians.

Without a doubt, quality health care is paramount to a society’s social and economic well-being. Like other goods and services, health care demands adaptability and a wide range of consumer options. However, health care surpasses general commodities in that it extends life and minimizes physical pain, so the ability to make personal health care decisions is a higher priority.

Someone who is comparing health insurance plans values discretion more so than someone comparing televisions, because a television purchase is not going to determine a person’s overall health and, possibly, their existence. A basic insurance plan may have a high deductible and cover only basic services and procedures, as opposed to a comprehensive plan that has a low deductible and covers specialized services and prescription drugs.

Though high costs and excessive insurance premiums are legitimate concerns, individual health and care quality are most consequential. Indeed, the cost of a surgical operation is outweighed by the cost of losing a life because of unfit physicians and outdated equipment. New drugs, cures, and technology enhance quality of life, and most would agree, especially under personal circumstance, good health and longevity transcend financial concerns. However, this is not to say rising costs are inevitable and must be accepted. The problem is, the solutions being advocated are eroded with allegories and misconceptions, and sold to the public on emotion and false pretense.