Biden to Doctors: Obamacare Settled It, Health Care is a 'Right'

Vice President Joe Biden wrapped up his California visit on Friday by telling doctors that the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, had “ended the debate” about whether health care is a privilege or a right, according to the Orange County Register.

Biden was speaking to the Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit, congratulating doctors on a rapid reduction in the rate of hospital-borne infections in recent years. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke to the meeting.

There is no provision in the Constitution or in the text of the Obamacare bill that refers to health care as a “right.” Nor are any other necessities–such as food, water, shelter and clothing–“rights” under any federal law or constitutional provision.

President Barack Obama has stated in the past that he believes health care is a right, most recently on the campaign trail in late 2014. However, the White House has not, apparently, made the claim that the debate over that issue has been “settled.”

More