Promised By All
As election year gets closer and closer,
affordable health insurance seems to occupy would-be legislators and political pundits like never before. But, will any of these promises actually lead to increased medical coverage, or at least a better health plan for the average American?
President Bush's plan to change the tax code on employee health benefits is finding criticism from those who fear that it won't go far enough to help the uninsured find affordable health insurance, and will take too long to reimburse them when they rely on the system. Those in its favor argue that by allowing families to receive tax deductions based on their medical coverage there will be a net increase in the number of insured, without significantly raising costs.
Meanwhile, Democratic hopeful Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton says that she supports universal health coverage, but as yet has not begun developing such a health plan. However, regardless of how low costs could be, many don't agree with the idea of a medicare-like system for everyone, since it's similar to a government-run healthcare plan.
And then there's California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He feels that the key to affordable health insurance lies in personal responsibility. In his plan, those who maintain healthy bodies will be rewarded with
lower cost medical coverage, mostly in the shape of vouchers that would lower insurance premiums based on things like a healthy weight, and low cholesterol and blood pressure. While such a plan has been well-received on an individual level, there are many detractors who argue that it would lead to discrimination against those who are sick or overweight.
Facts on:
Affordable Health Insurance
Did you know...
Critics fear President Bush's plan to change the tax code on employee health benefits won't go far enough?
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So, while everybody seems to have something to say about how to repair the country's broken health insurance system, no one has a real-life health plan that can be universally agreed-upon.
Hopefully change will be on the horizon, and affordable health insurance will someday be available to every citizen who needs it. Until then, consumers will need to make their voices heard, keep shopping around, and fighting to find the lowest possible medical premiums with the best possible coverage.
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