Poll: Should smokers be denied access to Medicare? (Australian Medicare)

[Lem0nade Inlay]

Hey all, I've seen a lot of debate about smokers lately in the media (and on these forums!) so it got be wondering, should smokers be denied medicare? By Medicare I mean the Australian medicare, which basically means that all Australian citizens get free access to public hospitals and they get (usually all) of their money back when they visit doctors (GP's).

I am undecided, I mean on one hand they are destroying their bodies, but on the other hand if we say smokers shouldn't be able to, then we might as well say that alcoholics can't, overweight people can't etc.

 

[SwagLordYoloson]

I think it would be silly to disallow those who choose to smoke the rights of Medicare. Instead they should just create some other alternative way of getting people to give up smoking.

 

[Arcticflame]

That would be ridiculous. Making smokers pay a larger levy to cover the costs of their self-harm might be arguable, but denying them access altogether? That would be pretty sad for a first world country to do. Besides, it would open up so many poor precedents.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Uhhhhhhh... do you go to IES in Brisbane by any chance? Because this is the exact question I was given for my seminar.

OT: My grandfather smoked, got lung cancer and died because we couldn't afford the treatment. Guess which side I'm taking?

 

[ShrooM_DoughKiD]

I am undecided, I mean on one hand they are destroying their bodies, but on the other hand if we say smokers shouldn't be able to, then we might as well say that alcoholics can't, overweight people can't etc.

and there it is. ***** of catch 22 in'nit? but at the end of the day, Smokers are still people, and people deserve free health care. Thats one of the main reasons i pay taxes.. that and i kinda have to..

 

[Arcticflame]

Uhhhhhhh... do you go to IES in Brisbane by any chance? Because this is the exact question I was given for my seminar.

OT: My grandfather smoked, got lung cancer and died because we couldn't afford the treatment. Guess which side I'm taking?

Hey same here, and when he was alive when cigarettes were still branded as health items. He got lung cancer, arguably from asbestos or cigarettes.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Depends, if they're 15 year old douchebags who smoke because they think it's cool then yeah.

 

[ClaptonKnophlerHendrix]

Hmm... I'd think it would be fair to say from such and such a date (preferably pretty far away, like 5-10 years) smokers will have certain bits of Medicare taken away from them, the things which relate to smoking like lung cancer. That way they have a fair amount of time to stop smoking, if they could prove though that they have gained the disease after quitting they should be given treatment. It would free up alot of medical funds for people who don't willingly expose themselves to the cause.

Depends, if they're 15 year old douchebags who smoke because they think it's cool then yeah.

I'm sensing some pent up anger and frustration there.

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

Uhhhhhhh... do you go to IES in Brisbane by any chance? Because this is the exact question I was given for my seminar.

OT: My grandfather smoked, got lung cancer and died because we couldn't afford the treatment. Guess which side I'm taking?

Heh, no. Actually it's a school debate that I've been asked to do.

But don't worry, my debate is already written and ready. I'm not going to steal any of your arguments! I just thought it was a good topic and I was wondering what the thoughts of the escapist where.

 

[LongAndShort]

I look at the fact that they might get sick in ways that aren't related to their smoking. It would be far kinder to ban smoking, but people might get angry about that (not that they wouldn't be upset about being denied healthcare.

 

[Om Nom Nom]

They should have to pay for things directly related to their smoking, but if they (for example) break their leg at work, that should still be covered.

E: As said above, yeah, access to hospitals or GPs shouldn't be denied.

 

[Dr.Susse]

No one should be denied access to Medicare.
It?s like saying that this cancer stricken man shouldn't get any benefits because he has an ultimatum.

But yeah you you hit it straight on the head with the "We might as well say that alcoholics can't, overweight people can't etc."

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Uhhhhhhh... do you go to IES in Brisbane by any chance? Because this is the exact question I was given for my seminar.

OT: My grandfather smoked, got lung cancer and died because we couldn't afford the treatment. Guess which side I'm taking?

Heh, no. Actually it's a school debate that I've been asked to do.

But don't worry, my debate is already written and ready. I'm not going to steal any of your arguments! I just thought it was a good topic and I was wondering what the thoughts of the escapist where.

Hmmm... all done eh?

Say would you mind mailing me a copy for my seminar? I'd do it myself and all, but you know... I have other things to pla-uh... do.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to Starcraft 2...er, I mean, my other essay. GodDAMN that zerg rush took out my tech lab!

 

[Jadak]

I don't know about Australia, but over a here a sizable chunk of the overall cost of buying cigarettes is taxes. So while smokers are screwing over their own health, they're also paying in advance for their health-care expenses.

I won't even pretend to guess at how the the two values balance out, my guess would be that health care is still vastly more expensive, but who knows, life-long smoking isn't cheap.

 

[Adzma]

By Medicare I mean the Australian medicare, which basically means that all Australian citizens get free access to public hospitals and they get (usually all) of their money back when they visit doctors (GP's).

Wow that's generous wording. We usually only get a third of it back.

OT: Yes, I think they should be denied access to Medicare. Smokers talk like people persecute them, but the fact is they choose to slowly kill their bodies. No one forces them to take up smoking. No one forces them to continue it either.

 

[Lizardon]

I don't think singling one group of society an declaring that they're going to be treated differently will ever go down well. Alcohol related injuries take up a much bigger portion of taxpayers money anyway.

OT: If they are an Australian citizen, then they have equal rights to everyone else and shouldn't be refused free treatment.

 

[crudus]

Of course they should get free health care. Now let's raise the taxes of cigarettes a quarter or two to pay for it.

OT: Yes, I think they should be denied access to Medicare. Smokers talk like people persecute them, but the fact is they choose to slowly kill their bodies. No one forces them to take up smoking. No one forces them to continue it either.

Well then, I think we should deny gamers free healthcare(I assume you are a gamer since you are here). All they do is sit on their asses and play games. They put themselves at greater risk for various illnesses and heart diseases. If they stop playing games then we can give it to them since they aren't causing their health problems anymore.

 

[DalekJaas]

I think they should be denied access to medicare for smoking related illnesses. Same for obese people, except fat related illness.

 

[Cerzelo]

I am undecided.

While I am a smoker and I know if anything were to happen I would get free medical care, I do also realise the damage that I am doing to my body, and yes, it is my fault.

But you also need to look at a governments stand point. They tell smokers that they won't get health care, yet at the same time take taxes from the sale of cigarettes and allow the tobacco industry literally get away with murder.

Personally I think its important to get people off them before they cause any real damage.