Title says it all. I'm in a country that has public health care, and in many aspects it is very good. Only downside is wait time. There's also less and less funding every year, less and less quality, the whole process to destroy and later privatize what is a natural monopoly (such as water, electricity, etc) and a basic necessity for human life and dignity, and so on.
With that said, is it wrong for me to benefit from what is essentially a better service (because of factors mentioned above, not because private = "better") because it is a capitalist enterprise? Same debate could arise from private energy companies, private transport providers, etc.
No. not wrong.
no self respecting communist would say yes to this. basically just another flavour of "socialist with iphone". what other option do you have? live without electricity, dont eat, dont drink water, walk everywhere and fucking die?
anyway, take care of yourself the best you can, if u need to contract private services, so be it.
individual consumer choices are not politics. boycotts are a useful tool in concert with an organized political movement (like BDS or a union of striking workers) but can be ultimately counterproductive on their own:
In short, a strong belief that ethical consumption will lead to ethical practices is not warranted – purchasing as voting is a weak feedback mechanism at best and there are other actors who are able to influence the system. The danger, however, comes in believing that this mechanism can make substantial political change. Ethical consumption gives the individual the illusion of contributing to progress; of “doing their part” by making purchasing decisions. This illusion can detract, and probably has detracted, from trying to put forward an avowedly political agenda that seeks to mobilise people collectively to make the changes they support. Instead, it individualises ethics, it individualises politics and it reaffirms us as consumers rather than citizens – it is a part of the profit-maximising, pathologically-externalising neoliberal market system that has caused many of the problems ethical consumerism seeks to alleviate, rather than being an alternative.
No. I have it as well because my 'public' health insurance, which is for a private company as well, doesn't even cover dental care for example. I'm not going to let my teeth rot away because of my strong communist principles lol. Sometimes you have to live in society.
The fact that you need a private insurance to access quality care is an indictment of the state, not you as an individual.
We don't believe in "personal responsibility" crap for virtue signalling. We seek to build what is better for society, but as individuals you can choose what is best for you personally now. Get your government to fund their public services properly if you can.
There is a phrase in Russian.
They give? You take. They hit? You run.
Existing under capitalism is not a crime. No one is going to remember how you suffered pointlessly without medical care. You can’t cut yourself off from capitalism while the structure remains. That’s the entire point of Revolution. You don’t separate yourself and society from capitalism; you replace it.
No? Why would it be? If you lived in a communist country then it would be questionable I'd say.
If it is about covering a basic need, I don't see why this would be wrong. Of course, there is the aspect of supporting a private enterprise vs. a public service provider but, since it is an imformed and weighted choice that comes out of a need, I see nothing fundamentally wrong with it unless you want to be dogmatic (which a communist should not be). As a person living in a country where healthcare is in a similar state, I understand that sometimes you don't have much choice unless you want to take risks with your health. Unfortunately living in a capitalist society means that even as a marxist you sometimes have to play by the system's playbook.
Adding to what others said: don't feel bad about surviving. If the capitalist state will not take care of you you have to do it yourself.
This is the same reason why I own stocks. Retirement is fucked in my country and things will probably only get worse so I invest in stocks. If the revolution comes before my retirement I won't need them so who cares what happens with them then? And if it doesn't I am still relatively safe during my twilight years.
Enduring capitalism doesn't make you capitalist so don't worry about it.
As others have said the fact that you even feel like you need to pay for better care says more about the state than yourself. I live in the UK and we're one of the worst countries for trans healthcare that doesn't outright ban it, I have several trans friends who sought out private healthcare for this reason and I do not blame them at all.
I think others have covered it well, but I hope you know that you don't have to suffer for the cause. I have private health insurance, because fuck the system, but in the meantime I and my family don't need to suffer.
