Tram Huynh L9920856 Despite being the leader in healthcare expenditure, the US health insurance system is facing a crisis

regarding costly medical treatments and insufficient medical insurance providers. There are people who think free medical services will be the solution for the current situation, while some others believe that universal healthcare makes no sense. William Liberal, in his article All Americans have a right to free healthcare (2012), asserts that universal medical treatment is the new direction for the USs healthcare system. On the other hand, Jacob G. Hornberger states in his article Healthcare is not a right (2009) that the government should not cover healthcare because free healthcare is unfair. This essay will critically respond to the two articles to show that health service is not a good solution for the current healthcare crisis.

Liberal argues that free healthcare will benefit the economy and protect the beliefs of Americans about democracy. He states that preventing illnesses before their outbreak will save America from bankruptcy due to costly medical treatments. He also asserts that universal health insurance brings people a longer life, which means they will contribute more to the development of the country. Finally, he states that free health coverage is indirectly stated as a right in the Declaration of Independence and therefore, should be treated as one.

Hornberger, on the other hand, points out that universal health coverage allows people to demand healthcare from others, and makes it legal for people to take money from others to improve their health. This is unfair and will cause conflicts between citizens. Hornberger also stresses that healthcare is no right. He believes that the Declaration of Independence does not imply that someone has to be responsible for others happiness. Therefore, he suggests that the government should not cover healthcare.

The two authors display two different interpretations on the remark of perusing happiness stated in the Declaration of Independence. Liberal thinks that free health insurance is a right while Hornberger does not. Although Liberal asserts that there is a clear link between health and happiness, he fails to provide solid evidence to support the idea. Moreover, what is stated in the document is the right to pursue happiness, which means people have the right to make themselves happy and does not mean they must be made happy.

In another of Liberals arguments, he presents his strong argument about how universal health coverage will ensure people a longer life, which will lead to a more productive workforce. The author correctly states the link between free healthcare and high life expectancy. This has been proved by the recent report of WHO, in which countries with universal healthcare are on top of the life expectancy ranking chart. However, there is no clear relationship between life expectancy and working productivity. For example, people in China and Syria are reported to have the same life expectancy of 74 years (WHO 2012). This does not indicate anything about whether employees in Syria are as productive as those in China.

To conclude, Liberal and Hornberger both see the crisis that the current healthcare system of the US is facing. They both, then, believe that some changes should be made to the current situation. Though the idea of Liberal about free healthcare will provide America with more equality, it is still not a governments duty to provide any one with happiness. The government only has to duty to allow people to search for happiness. The government, therefore, should not cover healthcare.