Healthcare and the 2008 Presidential Campaign

by Rachel

So now that we've passed Super Tuesday in what could be the most exciting presidential campaign of our generation's lifetime, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss the four major remaining candidates' stances on healthcare. Here is a brief synopsis from cnn.com on each of the four candidates:

Republicans
Mike Huckabee
Says our current system is "irrevocably broken" but opposes federally mandated universal coverage. Would encourage private sector innovation to reduce healthcare costs. Supports market-based approaches at the state level. Would make healthcare more affordable by reforming medical liability, improving electronic record-keeping, promoting portable health plans, expanding health savings accounts, making health insurance tax deductible, and offereing tax credits to low income families.

John McCain
Opposes federally mandated universal coverage. Would increase awareness and promote the use of existing children's health insurance programs while expanding community health centers. Supports healthcare tax dividends for low-income Americans, medical malpractice reform, improving electronic record keeping, expanding health savings accounts, and encouraging small businesses to band together to negotiate lower rates with healthcare providers.

Democrats
Hillary Clinton
Mandates individual health insurance coverage for all Americans. Offers federal subsidies for those who cannot afford it. Allows individuals to choose from among several private plans also offered to members of Congress, as well as a new public insurance plan modeled after Medicare. Requires insurance companies to offer coverage to anyone who applies, and bars insurance companies from charging higher premiums to those with pre-existing conditions. Requires large businesses to provide or help pay for employee coverage. Expands Medicaid and federal children's health care programs. Offers tax credits to limit healthcare premiums to a certain percentage of a family's income. Cost estimated at $110 billion annually, to be paid for by eliminating the Bush tax cuts for those earning over $250,000, as well as reducing waste and inefficiencies in the current system. Also limits the amount employers can exclude from taxes for healthcare benefits for those making over $250,000.

Barack Obama
Would create a national health insurance program for individuals who do not have employer-provided healthcare and who do not qualify for other existing federal programs. Allows individuals to choose between the new public insurance program, or from among private insurance plans that meet certain coverage standards. Requires employers who do not provide health coverage for employees to pay into the national health insurance program. Does not mandate individual coverage for all Americans, but requires coverage for all children. Allows individuals below age 25 to be covered through their parents' plans. Cost estimated between $50 billion and $65 billion, to be paid for by eliminating Bush tax cuts for those earning over $250,000.

The more and more I read about healthcare, the more confused I become as to what the best solution is, at least in my opinion. One definite conclusion I have been able to come to is that Medicare and Medicate either need to be eliminated slowly or they need a radical makeover. I also believe we need a system which promotes preventative medicine, which I think would slowly help cut back on the cost of catastrophic health problems. Those are two things none of the candidates have addressed.

While it is no secret that I'm a Democrat, I like McCain and Huckabee's ideas to make health insurance tax deductible, as well as their desire to improve electronic record keeping, which I think would help improve administrative costs. I do not believe Clinton's idea to mandate healthcare for all Americans would work, and I believe that Obama's plan to only mandate healthcare for children would be much more feasible. I also like how Obama's plan allows for young adults under the age of 25 to be covered by their parents' insurance, especially because I know I won't be done with school until the age of 25 and it would be quite a relief to know I could still be insured under my parents' plan.

No matter who becomes the next president in 2009, it is obvious that healthcare is goning to be one of many issues on their plate. It will be interesting to see where things go, and I can't wait to get our poll started and hold the assembly to see what everyone else around me is thinking.