“It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.”
Hubert H. Humphrey, United States politician (1911-1978)
I agree with the statement because one should always be aware of the conditions he or she lives in and how these conditions shape one’s world. The luck of being born in a wealthy or upper/middle-class family is not universal. Thousands of people born in poverty have to struggle with serious chronic diseases that require lengthy hospital stays and considerable investments. It is impossible to predict any negative events that might happen, including diseases or accidents.
Neither an uninsured nor an insured citizen can be certain whether he or she will be able to cover the cost of treatment. Depending on the condition, a citizen can spend thousands of dollars to cover the expenses that he or she did not plan to have. Thus, it appears that the healthcare system requires such citizens to pay for something they cannot predict, i.e. pay for the consequences of any possible accident that can happen to one.
The lacking access to quality healthcare for people living in poverty would result in thousands of deaths and disabilities each year. Therefore, such programs as Medicaid or any other support from the government are necessary to address the needs of the population. At the same time, it also has its limits that do not cover all groups of people in need. Thus, as I have noticed from my personal experience, only those who have enough money to pay for the services can ensure they will have a healthy and long life. I believe that the money should not define the quality of our life and our ability to live happily and receive support and help if needed.
I would also like to point out that free health care can positively influence the overall use of formal care among citizens, as well as reduce health spending (Powell-Jackson et al. 319). It might not become a revolution, but it can certainly make the nation healthier.
Work Cited
Powell-Jackson, Timothy, et al. “Who Benefits from Free Healthcare? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Ghana.” Journal of Development Economics, vol. 107, no. 2, 2014, pp. 305-319.