Obama on Health Care Reform, Part I

Though the war in Iraq and the downturn in the economy continue to dominate political conversation among the presidential hopefuls, health care reform remains an enormous and looming issue, one that increasingly demands change away from an unsustainable status quo.

To be sure, informational tools that provide self-empowering information, such as that provided on health websites like this, are growing forces on the health care landscape that potentially may reduce costs by arming the health care-consuming public with better information.

But, break your leg and what choice do you have but to go to the hospital? Or develop pneumonia, colon cancer, or any number of conditions that cannot be managed through prevention and self-directed care, but require the services of the conventional health care system? Yes, emerging positive change in health will come from a number of new directions, but the need for conventional - and costly - care will continue. 

Are we approaching the breaking point in health care? I’m not sure, but it sure feels like we are. Dealing with the uninsured is an everyday occurrence in most medical practices, certainly exceptionally common in hospitals. So, we turn to the presidential candidates for some ray of hope, hope that changes in the status quo might help alleviate the enormous pressures on all of us trying to obtain or maintain access to health care that is priced beyond reach for so many people.

While there are differences among the three candidates, all agree on several basic issues:

• Health care is too expensive for the majority of Americans. Costs are rising too fast, out of proportion to the rest of the economy.
• Too many Americans - some 45 to 48 million - do not have basic health care coverage that even covers emergency care, obstetrical care, or catastrophic injury. This is an intolerable and dangerous situation, one that not only threatens health but also leads to financial ruin to many who obtain care only to face monstrous bills.
• Importation of drugs from outside the U.S. should be permitted to reduce prescription drug costs.

Beyond these basic concerns shared by all three candidates, there are clear-cut, fundamental differences.

Is the patient so sick that drastic surgery is required for survival, as in the democratic candidates’ proposal for major upheavals in health care coverage? Or, does the patient simply need a bit of coddling and R & R, as provided in the McCain republican proposal?

The Obama Health Care Reform Proposal

“We now face an opportunity — and an obligation — to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates . . .  My plan begins by covering every American [emphasis added]. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.”