sk your clients
what keeps them awake at night, and I bet many will say the skyrocketing cost of
health care. That is why the first order of business
for the next president of the United States is to fix the health care system.
We are all aware that fiscal stimuli are needed to revive
the economy, and it has been well documented that the next president will face this
nation’s first trillion-dollar deficit.
Nonetheless, health care reform comes first.
No matter who resides in the White House in January,
the health care crisis must be resolved.
If it isn’t, the American standard of living will decline
as workers and households continue to pay for health insurance through lower wages
and higher costs.
Clearly, Americans can’t continue to handle the inefficiencies
of health care. They deserve changes in the system that will reduce cost, improve
quality and ensure access to health care.
To that point, about 20 percent of respondents in a
2007 survey of 18,000 people said they had put off or had gone without needed medical
treatment at some point during the year because of concerns about costs. While the
uninsured reported the highest rate of delaying treatment, a significant number
of people with health insurance also delayed necessary care.
That is alarming information.
Also alarming is that 47 million Americans—nearly 16
percent of the population—have no health insurance. Meanwhile, U.S. health care
spending is expected to nearly double by 2017, reaching $4.8 trillion and consuming
19.5 percent of the gross domestic product (four times the defense budget).
The health care system isn’t sustainable, and therefore,
it isn’t surprising that in many surveys, voters have identified health care as
the leading domestic issue for the government to address and for the presidential
candidates to discuss in the campaign.
Voters of course have the right to hear the candidates’
positions on reducing the cost of health care and health insurance, and expanding
coverage to those millions of uninsured Americans.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican
nominee, thinks that controlling costs is key to making health care more affordable,
saving Medicare and Medicaid, and protecting health benefits for retirees. He sets
three primary goals: paying only for quality care, offering diverse insurance choices
responsive to individual needs, and restoring a sense of personal responsibility.
McCain advocates market solutions such as allowing companies
to provide insurance nationwide.
He thinks that individuals should have a variety of
plans from which to choose and would offer tax credits and health savings accounts
to help pay for them.
Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the presumptive Democratic
nominee, has proposed a universal health plan that would provide coverage to every
American, through both public and private means. His plan would mandate that all
children have health care coverage.
Those who have insurance through their employers or
who qualify for Medicaid or the state children’s insurance programs would be able
to keep that coverage.
For others, Obama would create a public insurance program.
People couldn’t be turned away because of illness or pre-existing conditions.
Both plans need to be critically reviewed.
Incremental reform will fail to address the problem.
An overhaul of the system is needed, and that means identifying solid ideas for
meaningful and long-lasting reforms.
Perhaps the answer is a compromise.
A recent study by some health care professionals outlined
the benefits of universal health care. However, the study also recognized that much
of the economic success that the United States has enjoyed is attributed to a free-enterprise
system.
Therefore, the study suggested, marrying these two seemingly
disparate concepts will be critical to solving the ills of health care.
McCain and Obama: Are you paying attention?
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