Healthcare = Fundamental Right?

This is the question of the moment. Is universal, government-sanctioned healthcare a fundamental right? I have had some internal debate over this subject for a while now. I use the words 'fundamental right' because these are the words most often used by the media and the government officials speaking on the subject.

On the one hand, I am unemployed and have no health benefits from an employer. It should be obvious that I would be an advocate for free healthcare. Who would not like free healthcare? Especially people who currently do not have any sort of healthcare. In the last 2 weeks, there has been a string of robberies and muggings in the Lincoln Park/Lakeview area. If I became the next victim, I could be in big trouble if they decided to break my jaw like they did to one of the victims. The size of my medical bill would easily drown me. If tomorrow, the government said that I was covered under their healthcare plan, I should be thrilled. Why don't I feel thrilled?

I was watching CNN and FoxNews and saw that they both used the words "Fundamental Right" when describing this healthcare plan. My next move was to go to Wikipedia and type in those words. Here is that link (Wiki). From what I gather from Wikipedia, here is a list of the fundamental rights...

Some rights generally recognized as fundamental at the federal level follows

• Right to life after viability
• Right to freedom of movement within the country
• Right to property
• Right to marry the person of any race (not gender) of one's choosing
• Right to procreate irrespective of marital status or other classifications
• Right to freedom of association
• Right to freedom of speech
• Right to equal protection under the law
• Right to freedom of thought
• Right to vote in general election
• Right to freedom of contract by parties with proportional bargaining power
• Right to privacy

From this list, here is what I gather...

These rights are fundamental. What is meant by fundamental? Something that is given to you from the time you are born. It is guaranteed for every citizen regardless of race or religion. So far, I can see how universal healthcare could fit into these categories. But when you look closer at this list, I don't find healthcare fitting into the list. These rights are not rights on the scale of something like universal healthcare. It does not cost $230 billion dollars to give someone freedom of speech or freedom of movement about the country. It does not take government intervention to give someone the right to freedom of thought or freedom of privacy. What fundamental right takes so much money to provide? What fundamental right forces a tax increase to pay for someone else? What fundamental right takes any money from its citizens? I suppose due process costs tax payer money and so does an election. But to the capacity of healthcare? Due process and the court system is set up for all citizens. It's for the protection of all citizens. Elections are for all citizens 18 years and older. Neither of these cost close to what a healthcare plan costs. What if we get a healthcare plan covering all citizens, even those who are unemployed and living on the streets? Now those people can stand in front of us in line to visit the same doctor we have been visiting for our entire lives. Is that fair?

To me, there is no doubt that universal healthcare is not a fundamental right. It might be a different kind of right, but it is not fundamental. These rights are clearly different altogether. So, should the government mandated healthcare proposal go through? It's tough to say; but I can clearly see that it is not a fundamental right.