Healthy citizens vital to our country

The question of health care being a privilege or a right is not so easily explained as a five-minute sound bite. When health-care coverage was first put into place, most certainly it was considered a right, through our taxes and employers. It was considered vital to the healthy existence of the nation’s citizens.

Without a doubt, the provision of robust health-care programs stopped major outbreaks of disease, which benefits the nation and governance. Though we are morally and ethically obligated to take care of those who are sick or disabled, the degree to which government coverage for the masses now participates and the complexion of the consumer purchased insurance industry through employers, have changed over the years.

The remaining health-care “rights” are Medicaid, Medicare, workers’ compensation, the Hospital Care Assurance Program, and a handful of additional services. Beyond that, traditional employerprovided insurance plans are a privilege.

There is no law forcing employers to provide insurance for employees. That tradition grew due to competition among employers to retain and attract employees with attractive benefits packages.

The Affordable Care Act attempted to make everyone who was not on any of the government programs to purchase insurance from private insurers. This was meant to reduce the use of emergency rooms and trauma centers by the uninsured for basic treatment, and which is ultimately charged back to the government. Regrettably, the poor could have a tougher time getting covered under the American Health Care Act.

Nicholas Rousselle Columbus