Universal Health Coverage
Posted on | May 30, 2007
First out of the gate with a universal health care plan is presidential candidate Barack Obama, promising to do what Congress has been unable to accomplish—ever:
“My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is that the amount of money you will spend on premiums will be less,” Obama said. “If you are one of 45 million Americans who don’t have health insurance, you will after this plan becomes law.”
Obama also called for a series of steps to overhaul the current health care system. He would spend more money boosting technology in the health industry such as electronic record-keeping, put in place better management for chronic diseases and create a reinsurance pool for catastrophic illnesses to take the burden of their costs off of other premium payers.
His plan also envisions savings from ending the expensive care for the uninsured when they get sick. That care now is often provided at emergency rooms. The plan also would put a heavy focus on preventing disease through lifestyle changes.
In all, Obama said, the typical consumer would save $2,500 a year.
Obama conceded that the overall cost of the program would be high, while not providing a specific number.
The cost of American health care is already high, and tens of millions aren’t covered at all. We can fix this, but only after the wingnuts stop gasping, “Socialized medicine!”
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