Healthcare Should Be Treated Like a Basic Human Right

In the United States, healthcare can often feel like a privilege instead of a basic right. Because of healthcare being treated like a privilege, millions of people in the United States don’t get the care they need, and many others who get the care are left with huge medical bills that aren’t affordable.

For college students like me, this is really concerning because these problems will impact us in the future. Healthcare shouldn’t be treated like a luxury. It should be available and affordable, or tax-payer funded for everyone because it is needed for people to live a healthy and productive life.

Another problem with healthcare is the way it’s written. For example, health insurance, complicated bills, and rules that come with the system make it stressful and confusing. Most people don’t understand what they are paying for, people get surprised from charges they weren’t expecting when they came in for care. Instead of helping people, the healthcare system often makes them worried and overall less likely to go to the doctor.

Another issue is the cost of care. Something as simple as an ambulance ride or a short hospital stay can cost thousands of dollars. Even people with insurance still face deductibles and co-pays, which makes people avoid the doctor until things get really serious. This not only hurts people’s health but drives up cost overall because emergency care is so expansive. If the government and people who control healthcare prices focused on more affordable checkups and preventive care, money could be saved and less lives would be in danger.

Some people may argue that universal healthcare would cost too much or make people wait longer for care. I disagree. For example, many countries already provide healthcare for everyone. The systems that they use aren’t perfect, but they show it’s possible to make healthcare affordable and fair.

Meanwhile, the United States spends more money per person on healthcare than any of the countries who use a fair and affordable system, and most of the time health outcomes are worse. This shows the way our healthcare is set up doesn’t work.

Overall, the problems with healthcare go beyond one issue. From high costs and confusing systems, to lack of access and affordability, the current setup fails to meet the needs of everyday people.

Healthcare should be treated like a basic right, not a privilege for those who can afford it without drowning in bills. It needs to stop being treated like a business and more like an essential service. A healthier society would benefit everyone, and it starts with a healthcare system that puts people, not profits first.

Emily Carder is a Nickerson freshman studying Business Management and Entrepreneurship. Contact her at thehutchinsoncollegian@gmail.com.

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