Health Insurance is a hot topic right now, and is surely to be a debated subject in the 2008 Presidential Election. With the primaries right around the corner in November, now is a good time to examine candidates’ views on our country’s current health care system, and see if their plans for the future of health care in our country match with your ideals.
In fact, examining the politics of health care may just help you decide who to cast your ballot for this coming fall.
Here we have listed some of the prominent, officially declared candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties. Their plans for health care reform are detailed below.
Democratic Candidates: Views on Heath Care
Hillary Rodham Clinton is currently a U.S. senator (D-New York) and a former first lady. She supports universal health care in the United States. Her goals, if elected, are to lower health insurance costs (she says that premiums have doubled over the last six years) and ensure that all Americans have proper health insurance policies.
John Edwards is a trial lawyer and Director for Center on Poverty. Like Clinton, he also believes in universal health care across the United States. He wants to make sure that uninsured people have health insurance policies, to reduce the cost and increase the coverage for people who are insured, and to make it more affordable for employers to offer health insurance.
Barack Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, has made health care reform a large part of his campaign platform. His goal is to save a typical American family $2,500 a year in health insurance premiums by providing comprehensive and affordable health coverage for all Americans, focusing on providing preventative care and strengthening public health, and by reforming the public health care system to reduce costs and improve quality of care.
Republican Candidates: Views on Health Care
Sam Brownback is a U.S. senator representing the state of Kansas. He believes that health care reform should come from “increased consumer choice, consumer control and real competition.” Health care plans will be more affordable for citizens, he says, if they can be tailored to suit individual needs. Brownback has also said that citizens should be allowed to purchase healthcare across state borders.
Lawyer and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has declared twelve promises to the American public that he will fulfill if elected. One such promise is to “give Americans more control over and access to health care with affordable and portable free-market solutions.”
John McCain is a senator from Arizona. McCain supports health insurance reform through tax cuts that will give Americans more money to spend on healthcare. McCain also wants to increase funding and accessibility of healthcare for veterans.
Effects on Cost and Access to Health Insurance
It’s too early to tell right now who will win the presidency. But it’s not a good idea to sit around and hope that your candidate wins and wait for him or her to implement health care changes. If you’re currently uninsured or under insured, start exploring your health insurance options right away.
It is risky to be without a health plan. In the event of a serious injury or illness, your hospital fees could be extremely high, or you may even be turned away for care if you are unable to pay up front. Having insurance gives you the ability to see a physician regularly, so that you can catch preventable conditions early. Candidates and presidents will be different every four years, but the need to protect the health of you and your family never changes, so take action now to get the coverage that you need.
More About Health Care and the 2008 Presidential Race
Interested in reading more about health care in the 2008 presidential race? You may be interested in Hunter Graham’s blog. He discusses topics that are important throughout the nation related to health care issues, access and
reform. Blogs are posted every few days, so be sure to check back often for the newest articles!
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