Blog Pause

We originally started this blog as an assignment for a class to increase the public's political awareness. We have had such a great group and large number of readers, I have decided I will continue to post.

This will just become more interesting since we are no longer confined by the rules of our class.

We really appreciate all our readers and their opinions, this blog has been very interesting. With less than a year left until the election the debates will become more heated and our posts will become more interesting.

We are finishing up Finals and semester projects, so that's the reason for this short BLOG PAUSE... In the next week we'll start posting regularly... In the mean time if you have any questions or want to send an issue you would like to see addressed please don't hesitate (simon.curtis1@gmail.com)

Happy Hollidays to everyone!!

Edwards Wants Change

John Edwards says that we need to stand up to the drug and insurance companies in order for there to be change in the health care system. But he does not say what we need to do to stand up to these companies. We at Saving Health Care pose this question to you...What can we do to stand up to these companies?

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton Debate Health Care

At a recent debate Obama and Clinton had an exchange about their views on universal health care. Both believe that have the best way to save it. Of the two, who does? Who is most realistic? Of these, Who can save Health Care?

10/05 Hillary Clinton - Invisibles

This ad is slightly different than the Edwards approach. She concentrates on what hasn't been done, but also touches on more issues than Edwards. Do you believe what she says? Can Edwards actually take away health care insurance from congressman who don't agree with him? Can Hilary deliver on her vague promises?

Does an Ad sway your vote?

John Edwards is currently playing this ad in Iowa where soon they will hold the first caucus. Do you believe that be can or will deliver on such a bold promise?

Answering a Readers Question

To answer a Readers Question:

Spencer & Sierra said...
I would be interested in learning more about the factors that motivated the Netherlands to make the switch.
November 20, 2007 12:08 PM

The program is very new and still seems to be suffering growing pains from an operational and logistical standpoint, but the reason for the reform and and effective outline of the reform is in the link below.

"The old system didn't work," says Melanie Peters, health care specialist for the Consumers Association (Consummentenbond). "It is good for consumers to have a central role in the system, before care providers did not have to work together and this often leads to waiting lists."


http://www.hpm.org/en/Surveys/TU_Berlin_-_D/06/Health_Insurance_Reform_in_the_Netherlands.html;jsessionid=4DDF6F28F19B9CF287B94A3ECAD45B77?p_c:254=254&content_id=251&a=sc&language=en

First of all, the old fragmented scheme was characterized by unfairness: Age, income and health status all had a potential influence on insurance form, premium level and accessibility. The introduction of a flat rate scheme in combination with a risk equalization system for all insureds and an obligation for health insurance to accept everyone should realize a level playing field for all health insurers and civilians. Secondly, the new system hopes to contain costs and increase efficiency through enhancement of the health insurers’ competences (selective contracting) and introduction of more competition between health insurers. Thirdly, the new system hopes to increase transparency. The old system was characterized by a high level of government intervention, resulting in a fragmented insurance market with complex rules and regulations

Innovative Approach to Universal Health Care- Netherlands

The Netherlands has recently enacted a new insurance system. This replaced the government insurance system that was previously in place.

http://www.minvws.nl/en/themes/health-insurance-system/

This is an interesting switch from government health insurance to private health insurance.

Everyone is required to have insurance and can purchase it from their choice of a number private insurance companies. Some of these companies are for-profit and some are non-profit. There are about four large companies and over a dozen small companies. No company can refuse to provide coverage to any person. The annual cost of insurance is about 1000 to 1200 Euros. The government subsidizes the cost of insurance to people with low incomes. The insurance covers the full range of medical diagnostic and treatment services. You can also buy supplemental insurance to cover things like single rooms in the hospitals, cosmetic surgery, and the like. To combat the problems presented with overuse of universal systems there is a non-use reimbursement at the end of the year.

This system seems to make alot of sense to me, but does it match up with the candidates? What do you think could be improved in this system?

At the Request of Our Readers

We have heard from our readers that they would like to hear more about Republican Candidates and we have also gotten a great deal of feedback that the three candidates we have chosen to highlight may not be able to "save healthcare." So, we wanted to know who everyone had in mind? I have a old friend who wrote me a note and she provided me with some information on the candidates and from this I have posted the information on Republicans. Can a Republican Candidate save health care? What about these candidates is more appealing to our readership? Why have they chosen not to highlight health care as a high level agenda item?

Everyone please continue to send opinions and information.

We want to hear what you think!!!

-----
From a Friend:

Her Qualifications:
I am at a think tank in DC working on health policy. I work for two scholars who are both doctors and have backgrounds in econ. One was the deputy commissioner of the FDA and writes frequently on public health. The other was the commissioner of the FDA and the director of CMS and now heads up the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at Brookings and is also a fellow at the joint AEI-Brookings Institute.

In her opinion:
There is definatly info on the Republicans, they just haven't released comprehensive plans yet like the Dems have.

-----
This information seems to outline the basics of the republican plans, What about these plans is more appealing to the Republican Readers? Are they realistic?


Rudy Giuliani (Republican)
ADVOCATES MARKET-BASED HEALTH CARE; MAKE PRIVATE INSURANCE AFFORDABLE THROUGH TAX DEDUCTIONS
I believe we can reduce costs and improve the quality of care by increasing competition. We can do it through tax cuts, not tax hikes. We can do it by empowering patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats.
-- Boston Globe op-ed, Aug. 3, 2007 No estimate of cost. He proposes an income tax credit of up to $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families, allowing that money to be directed toward the purchase of health insurance and other medical spending. He also said he opposed any government mandates that would require people or businesses to buy insurance. He criticized Democrats' plans, saying they should leave the important decision of choosing insurance to individuals, not the government. He did not promise that all the uninsured would be covered under his proposal. He would expand health savings accounts by simplifying the rules and regulations to participate in them. He wants to increase the efficiency of the evaluation process for new drugs. He said the current process is too heavily regulated.- More Details (joinrudy2008.com)
HAS NOT ADDRESSED HOW HE WOULD PAY FOR THE TAX DEDUCTIONS; HAS SAID THAT A FREE-MARKET WOULD BRING DOWN COSTS
He said competition among insurers for customers would lead them to reduce the costs of their policies, estimating that only 20 million to 30 million of the 120 million who currently get their insurance through an employer would need to sign up for individual insurance plans for that to happen. "You have to start bringing the price down before you can figure out how many people can you include. It can't be done with a magic wand all at once.
-- Rochester, N.H., July 30, 2007


Mike Huckabee (Republican)
ADVOCATES MARKET-BASED HEALTH CARE; MAKE PRIVATE INSURANCE AFFORDABLE THROUGH TAX DEDUCTIONS AND COST CONTROL MEASURES
We don't need universal health care mandated by federal edict or funded through ever-higher taxes. We do need to get serious about preventive health care instead of chasing more and more dollars to treat chronic disease, which currently gobbles up 80% of our health care costs, and yet is often avoidable. The result is that we'll be able to deliver better care where and when it's needed.I advocate policies that will encourage the private sector to seek innovative ways to bring down costs and improve the free market for health care services. I also value the states' role as laboratories for new market-based approaches, and I will encourage those efforts.
-- Campaign Web site
IMPLEMENT COST CONTROL MEASURES
We can make health care more affordable by reforming medical liability; adopting electronic record keeping; making health insurance more portable from one job to another; expanding health savings accounts to everyone, not just those with high deductibles; and making health insurance tax deductible for individuals and families as it now is for businesses. Low-income families would get tax credits instead of deductions.
-- Campaign Web site


Duncan Hunter (Republican)
ADVOCATES MARKET-BASED HEALTH CARE; OPPOSED TO GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDIZED UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
I am not for universal health care. If everything is paid for by the government, you'll have companies trying to get in and trying to overcharge. And you'll lose what I call a consumer interest, in keeping the cost of health care down.
-- WMUR-TV, April 13, 2007
LET AMERICANS SHOP FOR INSURANCE ACROSS STATE LINES
We need to be able to buy our health care insurance across state lines. Right now the same single policy that can be purchased in Long Beach for $73 costs $334 in New Jersey. The states lock up the insurance industry. They won't let Americans buy across state lines just like they do everything else. If we're able to do that, we're going to bring down the cost of health insurance.
-- CNN debate for Republican candidates, June 5, 2007
NOT AVAILABLE


John McCain (Republican)
HAS PLEDGED AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR EVERY AMERICAN WITHOUT A FEDERAL MANDATE
The biggest problem with the American health care system is that it costs too much. ... Businesses and families pay more and more every year to get what they often consider to be inadequate attention or poor care.
-- Des Moines, Oct. 11, 2007No estimate of cost. He would provide $2,500 refundable tax credits for individuals, and $5,000 tax credits to families, if they have health insurance. He opposes universal health care mandates. He said he believed in limited government intervention, and wanted to give individuals freedom to choose their own health care. He would allow people to have portable insurance that could be purchased across state lines. He wants to bring greater competition to drug markets by safe reimportation of drugs and streamlining the process for introducing generic drugs.- More Details (johnmccain.com)
SAYS UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE
I'm certainly not interested in raising people's taxes, as many of the Democrats are interested in doing. I'm absolutely opposed to that.
-- On ABC's "This Week," June 10, 2007Employers would no longer be allowed to deduct health care costs from their taxes under his plan.


Ron Paul (Republican)
ADVOCATES MARKET-BASED HEALTH CARE; OPPOSED TO FEDERAL MANDATE
It's time to rethink the whole system. The rise of HMOs has created a harmful collusion between politicians, drug companies, and organized medicine that raises the price of health care by stifling competition between providers. And all this in favor of moving us towards universal health care! I believe strongly that patients are better served by having an element of choice in the matter, which is why I support letting the free-market determine health care costs. This won't happen, however, until we unravel the HMO web and change the tax code to allow individuals to fully deduct health care costs from their taxes, as employers can.
-- Muckraker Report, June 28, 2007
WANTS TO MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE WITHOUT TAX INCREASE
Congress needs to craft innovative legislation that makes health care more affordable without raising taxes or increasing the deficit. It also needs to repeal bad laws that keep health care costs higher than necessary.
-- LewRockwell.com, August 23, 2006

Mitt Romney (Republican)
ENCOURAGE STATES TO DEVELOP MARKET-BASED HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS; OPPOSED TO A NATIONAL VERSION OF THE PLAN HE SUPPORTED FOR MASSACHUSSETS AS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE, REQUIRING EVERYONE TO GET INSURANCE
The way we improve something is not by putting more government into it. ... Instead, the right way for us to go is to bring in place the kind of market dynamics that make the rest of the economy so successful.
-- Republican Debate, Dearborn, Mich., Oct. 9, 2007The cost would depend on what kinds of plans states propose. He wants to allow people who buy their own health insurance to be able to deduct premiums, deductibles and co-payments from their income. He is against individual or employer health care mandates, but said he wanted to get everybody "in the system" by driving down costs with market reforms. His plan would assist low-income Americans in buying private health insurance plans of their choice. He has not specified a way to change the current process of regulating drugs.- More Details (mittromney.com)
USE FEDERAL MONEY NOW BEING USED TO HELP STATES COVER THE COST OF MEDICAL CARE FOR THE UNINSURED
It's a conservative idea insisting that individuals have responsibility for their own health care. I think it appeals to people on both sides of the aisle: insurance for everyone without a tax increase.
-- USA Today, July 5, 2005


Tom Tancredo (Republican)
ADVOCATES MARKET-BASED HEALTH CARE; WOULD NOT RULE OUT FEDERAL SUBSIDIES FOR THE NEEDY
As for the uninsured: as many as 25 percent of them are illegal aliens and should be deported or encouraged to leave. For citizens and legal residents who are employed by businesses which cannot afford coverage, I favor association health plans which band small businesses together to access lower-cost insurance. For those out of work, state governments should be the primary source of relief, although I would not rule out federal incentives or limited subsidies to make sure families who have fallen on hard times are not without coverage.
-- Campaign Web site
PROPOSES IMMIGRATION REFORM TO CURB COST
The two major problems are the high cost of care and the number of uninsured. Tort reform and immigration enforcement would save the system billions and drive down costs. In California alone, illegal immigrants cost the system $800 million annually and have forced 84 hospitals to close.As for the uninsured: as many as 25 percent of them are illegal aliens and should be deported or encouraged to leave.
-- Campaign Web site

Fred D. Thompson (Republican)
ADVOCATES MARKET-BASED HEALTH CARE, OPPOSES FEDERAL MANDATE
The best way to improve the best health care in the world, which is what we get right here in the United States, is to expand choice--not punishment.
-- Orlando, September 2007
Those who propose a one-size-fits-all Washington-controlled program ignore the cost, inefficiency, and inadequate care that such a system offers.
-- Campaign Web site
IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO CONTROL COSTS AND SAVE MONEY
Access to affordable, portable health care can be made available for all Americans without imposing new mandates or raising taxes. Current government programs must also be streamlined and improved so that those who truly need help can get the health care they need.
-- Campaign Web site

Barack Obama on Health Care

Barack Obama promises that, if elected, he will have a universal health care bill signed and in place by the end of his first term. On this site you can see that the other candidates promise similar things. What about Obama's plan makes you feel like he is the one that can enact this change?

What can John Edwards do for your Health Care?

For what we can tell, he can do a lot to help fix the struggling Health Care system in the United States. According to johnedwards.com these are the main points of his health care plan:

• Families without insurance will get coverage at an affordable price.
• Families with insurance will pay less and get more security and choices.
• Businesses and other employers will find it cheaper and easier to insure their workers.

How does John Edwards plan of achieving these goals and helping create Universal Health Care?

• Requiring businesses and other employers to either cover their employees or help finance their health insurance.
• Making insurance affordable by creating new tax credits, expanding Medicaid and SCHIP, reforming insurance laws, and taking innovative steps to contain health care costs.
• Creating regional "Health Care Markets" to let every American share the bargaining power to purchase an affordable, high-quality health plan, increase choices among insurance plans, and cut costs for businesses offering insurance.
• Once these steps have been taken, requiring all American residents to get insurance.

After reading some of John Edwards' points, Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times wrote, "More than any of the presidential candidates, John Edwards has come up with a specific and plausible plan that provides for health care coverage for all Americans."

Do you agree with Kristof? If yes, why? If no, why not?

How Hillary can make Health Care more affordable?

Unlike the current health system where insurance premiums send people into bankruptcy, the plan provides tax credits for working families to help them cover their costs. The tax credits will ensure that working families never have to pay more than a limited percentage of their income for health care.

This aspect of Hilary's health plan may be more important than some people realize. It is generally assumed that people with health insurance are protected in almost all cases against a financial dooms day by their coverage. Americans that do need health insurance have some outragously high premiums. I have found an article that is titled: When staying alive means going bankrupt. This title is meant to grab attention, but provides a story about some of the hardship that people may have to endure even with insurance (let alone people without insurance).

The story that is told in this article is about a female, mother of three with a very good past credit history who had ovarian cancer two times and the medical bills she incured caused her to go bankrupt. Her monthly premius is $619 and she is liable for up to $7,000 with co-payments and her deductable. She was forced to file for bankruptsy with medical bills that were totalling $20,000. At that time BCBS of California said that the reason that her $7,000 cap was broken is because she did not follow the proper protocol when attempting to dispute the charges. This was a very difficult situation and a sad story. I am not trying to claim that everyone is being mistreated, but I am saying that there are instances when working families are literally a single medical catastrophe away from bankrupt.

We need to find a way to help the people who are working hard and just have had some bad luck. Take a second to look over the article. Hillary's tax breaks would allow for less of the take home money go toward health insurance. Is there a better way to fix problems like the case presented above?

Healthcare Platform Highlights: Barack Obama

Senator Obama on Healthcare:

"I...believe that every American has the right to affordable health care. I believe that the millions of Americans who can't take their children to a doctor when they get sick have that right...We now face an opportunity - and an obligation - to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates. It's time to bring together businesses, the medical community, and members of both parties around a comprehensive solution to this crisis, and it's time to let the drug and insurance industries know that while they'll get a seat at the table, they don't get to buy every chair."

-Barack Obama, Speech in Iowa City, IA, 5/27/07

Obama's Healthcare reform plan:

Item 1: Lowering health care costs and ensuring affordable, high-quality health care for all

Barack Obama believes we live in the greatest country in the world and that when it comes to health care, America can and must do better. The Obama plan will save a typical American family up to $2,500 every year on premiums by:

1. Providing affordable, comprehensive and portable health coverage for every American;
2. Modernizing the U.S. health care system to contain spiraling health care costs and improve the quality of patient care; and
3. Promoting prevention and strengthening public health to prevent disease and protect against natural and man-made disasters.

Item 2: Quality, Affordable & Portable Health Coverage for All

• Mandatory Coverage of Children. Obama will require that all children have health care coverage.

• Expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP. Obama will expand eligibility for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

• Flexibility for State Plans. Obama's plan allows states to continue innovating on health care reform.

Item 3: Modernizing the U.S. Health Care System to Lower Costs and Improve Quality

Some of the major attributes of this item are:

• The plan would reimburse employers that incur catastrophic procedure costs, provided that employers use these savings to lower insurance premiums
• Another feature involves establishing transparency within Healthcare organizations so that patients can measure cost and quality.
• Tackling disparities in Healthcare: Obama will maintain funding for organizations like Centers for Excellence in Women's Health

Item 4: Promoting Prevention and Strengthening Public Health

Facets of this plan include reforms like: providing funding for the global fight against aids, providing insurance plans that cover preventative care, getting junk food out of our nation's school systems. Additionally, Obama will call upon Federal, State, and Local governments to implement programs that improve public within each region.
***********************************************************************************
The above is a summary of the Obama plan. For a full detailed plan, please visit:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

Hillary Clinton on Healthcare

In this clip Hillary addresses the value of the money that we are spending on health care. She says--

"...if this were a comodity other than health care that you were spending so much money on and getting so little in return that you would never put up with it."

This issue has been discussed in our blog previously, but this statement gives you an idea of the way that Hillary feels about the value of the money spent on health care. She also believes the there is the problem with the way that health care is structered. Our health care system concentrates on treating illness instead of preventing it. This causes problems like rising health care costs and worse health outcomes.

On Universal health insurance: Hillary makes the point that many countries that spend much less than us already offer care to all citizens and have better quality care. Is the money already available? Could Universal health care coverage be accomplished without any additional capital?

John Edwards on how to Fix Health Care

Democratic Presidential candidate briefly speaks about Universal Health Care and its cost. At this conference Mr. Edwards tells the crowd that in order to have Universal Health Care we will need to raise taxes. Do you agree with this statement? How do you think that the American people will react to the idea of raising taxes to pay for health care? Watch this short clip and let us know what you think.

Bush Vetoes SCHIP Reform

A link to CNN's article discussing President Bush's Veto of the SCHIP reform

CNN Article

Summary of Facts:

President Bush vetoed the proposed SCHIP reform. The legislation was passed by the House with a margin of 265-159 and by the Senate with a vote of 67-29. The senate majority was large enough to overturn the veto, but the house needs an additional 15 votes to swing for the legislation for the veto to be over turned.

The legistlation would have increased the annual budget of $5 billion to $12 billion for the next 5 years. of the SCHIP program significantly. It would have doubled the number of insured children from 4 million to 8 million

A problem with the value of the money spent on health care in the United States

- The United States spends over two trillion dollars a year on health care. This is around 18% of the countries GDP and $7,500 per capita more than twice the amount of any other country.

-The United States ranks 45th in Life Expectancy

- The United States Ranks 37th in the World Health Organization's study on the performance of national health systems.

Proposed Health Care Plans

The number of uninsured citizens has become a high priority issue for 2008 presidential candidates. The population of the United States is 302,918,848 (http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html) of which 60 million do not have Health Insurance. The uninsured population is unable to access quality care. They effect everyone in our country by causing health care services cost to rise. This issue needs to be addressed immediately to begin rebuilding the health care system in the United States. The three candidates have posted through their websites their proposal for health care reform. We will break down their plans in much more detail. For now, find below links to the three candidates health care issue websites.

Question: Do the plans make sense? Which one will work the best?

Hillary Clinton:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/
John Edwards:
http://johnedwards.com/issues/health-care/
Barack Obama:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

YouTube Debate: Health Care?

The big three in the democratic party discussing their purposed health insurance coverage plans