I think we can all agree that we have certain unalienable rights. But according to Democratic President Joe Biden, having healthcare should be one of those. And what’s worse is that he thinks even non-citizens should have that “right.”
According to a recent statement from Biden, “Health care should be a right, not a privilege. My administration has worked hard to expand health care, and today more Americans have health insurance than ever. Today’s announcement is about giving DACA recipients the same opportunity.”
During the announcement, Biden noted that there are about 580,000 people enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. And he wants them all to be eligible to receive both Medicaid and Obamacare and currently, DACA participants don’t qualify for either.
The new rule was proposed by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, who claims that it will not only improve “health outcomes for DACA recipients” but would also eventually “improve the economic and productive capacity of America.”
According to Becerra, about a third of DACA-enrolled immigrants don’t have health insurance.
To explain how the rule could affect economic situations in the US, it’s important to note that if DACA members are approved for US-based health care, the government will have to pay billions in subsidies to all states that allow such.
For example, California already allows DACA members and certain other illegal immigrants to participate in federally funded healthcare programs such as Medicaid. For now, the state is footing the bill for this. But if it becomes a nationally approved law, the federal government will have to assume financial responsibility for such, owing states like California billions.
Of course, some states will undoubtedly receive more of these federal funds than others. States like New York, California, and Minnesota, which have declared themselves as “sanctuary cities,” have many more illegals and, therefore, DACA recipients than other states.
But like most Democratic, and more specifically, Biden proposed plans, there are a few problems.
The first, of course, is that healthcare is not a right, inalienable or otherwise.
If you look at our fundamental rights, you’ll notice a few similarities, with the main being that they require no real duty or action to be completed by others. They are, by definition, something you have a right to without anyone else’s participation.
You can defend yourself with firearms without anyone else being involved. You have the right to think and express yourself without fear of the government or anyone else taking action against you.
You have the right to a fair trial. Now, this one does mean that the state needs to set up fair rules. However, the basic principle is the same: no one can hinder your exercise of them.
Health care, on the other hand, is entirely different. And one that would affect all sorts of people.
For instance, if it were a right, does it mean that doctors or nurses would be made to care for you, performing whatever treatment you wished despite them not believing it to be in your best interest or against their will?
Who would be required to pay for your medical bills? Taxpayers? After all, it’s not like you could have “free” healthcare.
Another problem is that the end of what is and isn’t covered could be endless with healthcare.
I mean, if healthcare is a right, would you be required to receive free water, food, and housing for the sake of your “health?” And how is your mental health or “happiness” included? If you think a specific non-emergency plastic surgery will make you happy and “healthier,” will it now be free and required?
Where does it end?
Another issue is that “free” isn’t free. Even if these things become free, someone (aka the taxpayer) must assume responsibility. And that means another tax hike.
Besides, thanks to Biden’s expansion of healthcare for all, systems like Medicaid, Social Security, etc., are already under severe strain and facing bankruptcy. That will only increase should health care be “expanded” even more.
And you know, this isn’t where Biden and Co. will stop…
