Daily News Updates - Health Insurance News

The Health Care Heat is On, Pt.7 – Other bridges.

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There is also, another bi-partisan coalition that leans more toward the McCain health insurance/care approach, where employer-based health insurance goes away. This other coalition now comprises over a dozen senators and proposes the radical change of switching everything over to private health insurance. Like Mr. McCain, tax credits would be offered to help out, but unlike McCain’s approach, that private health insurance would be more tightly regulated.

However, many others, including Obama, view this approach as “too much of a drastic change for the vast majority of Americans who currently get their insurance through their employer,” as the Post article author, Perry Bacon words it. The Obama team has, pretty-much, ruled this health insurance approach out. Perhaps the greatest hurdle facing the Obama approach is funding. He proposes using just a portion of the colossal tax break given by Bush to the very wealthy (over $250,000 annual income), which is due to expire during the next presidential term if not renewed. This multi-billion dollar tax break was supposed to stimulate the economy (how’s that working out?). Anyone who has taken Economics 101 already knew it wouldn’t. Only the trust that comes with confidence in stability will do that, not a feeding frenzy. Still, the fact remains; Obama could easier climb Gibraltar than get Republicans to go along with it. As Mr. Kirsch concedes, “"It's much easier to oppose something than get something passed."