You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

People who cause their own illnesses through unhealthy lifestyles and poor diets should have to pay more for health care.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

MODEL ANSWER>>>

It is argued that those who are primary responsible persons for their own diseases have to pay more for health care when compared to normal morbid population.  Even though there is some truth in this viewpoint, I feel there should not be any discrimination in the way which terminally-ill patients are treated.

It is a fact that a sizeable proportion of all modern societies are paying the price for their unhealthy lifestyles and improper diet. The situations range from obesity to cancer, and many governments are spending a significant portion of their revenue to treat this population. When looked from a common tax-payer’s view, it is irrational for the whole society to bear this huge medical expense, just because these conditions are mostly the end consequences of their deeds and inappropriate approach towards health maintenance. Instead, they opine these people have to suffer an extra cost for the treatments which they receive as this may prevent further swelling of this type of morbid population.

Accepting the argument with its full relevance, I feel that these people should not be secluded from the health priorities. This is because most of the ailments they suffer are likely to be serious, and they would have been already in an utterly exhausted economic condition. Their families who are not the primary responsible elements which would have caused this situation, now has no option, but to suffer heavily. In such a miserable condition, it is inhumane to neglect the economic needs of these people. Instead of making them paying more, I feel the responsible authorities should avail them subsidized health care.

To conclude, albeit it appears to be rational to make people who are directly responsible for their unfavorable health condition pay more for the treatment they avail, I feel exceptions should be made as most of them are in extreme conditions.