Health Care Reform a Non-Partisan Issue

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

The desire for health care reform is so strong in the country that even the Republican Presidential candidates are promising massive changes to cover more of the 44.8 million uninsured and increase affordability for those who already have insurance. There is no one singular idea of how to reach those goals. Republicans are fearful to step into SiCKO territory and increase the numbers covered under governmental programs. The Democrats generally take the opposite tact. Here is a pretty decent NYT overview of the situation.

Their approaches are very different, reflecting longstanding divisions between the parties on the role of government versus the private market in addressing the affordability and availability of health insurance. Republicans, by and large, promise to expand coverage by using a variety of tax incentives to empower consumers to buy it themselves, from private insurers. Conservatives warn, repeatedly, of Democrats edging toward the slippery slope of “government-controlled health insurance,” as former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York puts it, and promote the innovation and choice offered by private insurers.

The major Democratic candidates propose strengthening the private-employer-based system, through which most working families get their coverage. But many Democrats also see a strong role for government, including, in some plans, new requirements that individuals obtain insurance and that employers provide it, along with substantial new government spending to subsidize coverage for people who cannot afford it.

Still, while they argue over solutions, both parties acknowledge the problems and their political urgency. Republicans, whose primaries usually turn on other issues, often wait until the general election to roll out detailed health plans; this time they are plunging into the debate far earlier. Democrats are competing furiously among themselves over who has the bigger, better plan to control costs and to approach universal coverage, a striking change from the party’s wariness on the issue a decade ago after the collapse of the Clintons’ health care initiative.

Health care is not a partisan issue. All Americans have been hit hard by the 87% increase in premiums for families over the last seven years. Businesses are having a harder time providing coverage. Polls now show it is the top rated domestic issue among all voters, regardless of party affiliation. Americans are eager for change and the presidential contenders are hoping to be able gain supporters from their plans. It's unlikely that Congress will address the issue on a broad scale until there is a new president in office. However, especially with a Democrat in office it will be on the top of the priority list next session and Republicans would have a hard time resisting addressing the issue.