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?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
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?
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
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
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?
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
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
Monday, November 12, 2007
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?
Thursday, November 8, 2007
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:
Do you agree with Kristof? If yes, why? If no, why not?
- 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.
- 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.
Do you agree with Kristof? If yes, why? If no, why not?
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