Daily News Updates - Health Insurance News

Healthcare in the Forefront, Pt.6 – McCain’s reform and the summary.

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I suppose by now, most people who will read this article already know John McCain's proposals on health insurance reform. As presumptive as they may be, a lot of clarity can be compiled. Typical Republican protocol – set up a system where those with the best investment acumen will prevail. Try your luck with the private health insurance open market, that’ll make it inexpensive. But what Mr. McCain is not explaining is that risk-sharing is going away. Bye bye employer-based risk pools. Let’s all head over to the open market and buy a few lotto tickets on the way. If quality health insurance is selling too high, we can always substitute it with peanut butter. Oh, but here’s a tax incentive coupon to by half a policy. Do you think they’ll sell me only half of a policy the way they do when I buy a watermelon? There’s a great deal on beef coming in from Argentina that hasn't been tested for ‘mad cow’. Good thing all that pesky regulation went away. Beef used to be so expensive.

To sum it up, right now, neither plan delivers ‘universal health insurance access’. Hillary tried her best and faithfully continues with this noble cause. Obama goes a long way toward the goal, but stops short. He has promised to work with Hillary and her principles and it is critical he do that.  Mr. McCain is so scared that it may lead to his worst nightmare, universal healthcare, that he won’t touch it.  He has promised to make health insurance ‘affordable’ to all.  This is where all the ‘fuzzy’ comes in.  Following the example of Mr. Reagan, he probably won’t define the fuzzy of ‘affordable’ until the time comes that it’s necessary.  Who knows?  Maybe it’s necessary now.  Same thing with pre-existing conditions.  "Let’s not talk about it now, it’s only a few votes anyway."  Since Ellen Lutch Bender has written such a fine article with which to draw so much information and insight, is seems only fitting to end with a quite from her.  “Viable solutions to our nation's healthcare crisis will require a bold plan for action, not rhetoric.”  She applauds Hillary for her stalwart, clear vision and her strong drive to bring it about.  Ellen’s last words were “Whether [Hillary’s] health plan was right or wrong, she was tenacious and brave, and her plan was the most comprehensive and detailed.  We should demand the same from McCain and Obama.”