Should Unvaccinated New Yorkers Pay Own Medical Costs If They Get COVID-19?
The COVID-19 is readily available all around the State of New York. Should people who choose not to get vaccinated be forced to pay their own medical bills, if they catch the deadly virus and get hospitalized? An Illinois State Representative introduced a bill that would make residents of that state, who decide to remain unvaccinated, pay out-of-pocket for any medical care they require if they catch COVID-19. Illinois State Representative Jonathan Carroll said,
"I think it's time that we say: 'You choose not to get vaccinated, then you're also going to assume the risk that if you do catch COVID, and you get sick, the responsibility is on you.'"
New York, particularly New York City, has enacted very strict mandates and requirements to make sure that all residents have gotten vaccinated. According to the most recent data released by Governor Kathy Hochul, these are the latest vaccination statistics (as of December 7, 2021)
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 86.5%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 78.8%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 91.9%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 81.2%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 74.9%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 67.4%
Data from Governor Hochul's COVID-19 update released December 8, 2021
Should New York be the next state to introduce a bill requiring the unvaccinated to take responsibility for their own medical bills? It's a slippery slope, I can say that for sure. Next, will we make people who contract HIV/AIDs, who didn't use proper protection during sex or intravenous drug use, pay for their own medical care? HIV/AIDs is a communicable and preventable virus, like COVID-19, after all. Would we take it a step further and require people who develop diabetes from an unhealthy diet to pay for their own medical care, since it can be prevented? What about women who have unprotected sex and get pregnant, should they pay for their own medical treatment during pregnancy and birth because they chose not to use condoms or birth control? All of these things may sound outrageous to you, but someone else may think it's a great plan. Let me know where you stand on the issue!