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Medical Insurance in Politics
Will Affordable Health Insurance Become a Reality in 2009?
March 2008
According to United Press International, medical insurance is set to be one of the top issues at hand in the upcoming presidential elections. However, with both sides differing on how to fix the system, will affordable health insurance ever become a reality?
As it says in the article, while all three major U.S. presidential contenders agree that the American healthcare system needs reform, "their agreement ends there." McCain believes that the issue is one of cost, and that if affordable health insurance is more available to the public then everyone can purchase coverage. But, just what his definition of "affordable" is hasn't been addressed.
Meanwhile, Clinton and Obama see a lack of broad-based medical insurance coverage as the problem. Clinton supports a universal coverage plan, while Obama favors such a move as well, but only for children. Neither candidate has made it clear exactly how much this would cost, and how we can afford it.
The article grimly sums the situation as such: "McCain's plan could leave millions of people without health insurance, while the Democratic plan could wind up costing more than intended."
But perhaps the unaccounted factor in all of this is the general displeasure of the American people when it comes to their current medical insurance system. A recent AFL-CIO survey finds that one third of Americans, even those who have insurance, say that high costs force them to skip needed medical care. About one quarter also said they had serious problems paying for the care they needed.
And 79% see affordable health insurance as the top issue in the upcoming elections.
So perhaps change is in the air. Of course, none of knows how long it will take for these changes to take effect, so it's important to hang on to the coverage you've got, or to get at least minimal coverage if you don't have it. But it's good to know that there are so many people behind health care reform, because if we know it, then legislators must know it too.
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