Around the
Water Cooler
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Understanding Health Care Reform:
Democrat and Republican Perspectives:
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by David Chapple |
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This column is not specifically aimed toward people who use AAC. However, I felt I need to write about the current health care debate so I can personally understand the issues. Obviously, this is an important debate for every American, but it is more important to people with disabilities, people with chronic health problems, and of course people without health insurance. Ironically, in my column from October 2008 I wrote about the importance of being an informed voter and one of the main issues was health care. It is a year later and no progress has been made. First I am going to write about Democratic views and then move to the republican.
In his address to the joint session of congress on September 9th President Obama said he wanted to be the last president to talk about health care. He also said our present health care system, coupled with the current economy, puts a big strain on the middle class and Medicare. This is true because the unemployment rate is so high and when people lose their jobs generally, they also lose their health care. One result of this is millions Americans are without health care because they cannot afford it. Another is if they can qualify for government assistance this withdraws yet more money from limited funds of Medicare and Medicaid.
Most Democrats agree with the president in that it is time to rebuild our health care system from the ground up. But, Americas that currently have health care, which includes Medicare and Medicaid, their coverage will not change under their new plan. However, their current coverage will work better because the new plan will create more competition. This is true because the democratic plan will create a government health care opinion that both employers and employees could buy into if they so choose. This government opinion will work like the private insurance companies we have now. The purpose of having the government opinion is to have more competition and thus lower the premiums employers and employees pay.
The Republicans agree that it is time to start over with our health care system; though they have a different approach. The most substantial difference in my opinion is that Republicans feel having a health care system that is run by the government is not the answer. Instead they suggest a targeted approach to tackle the biggest problems first. .
The main issue for the Republicans is to lower the cost of health care. They feel this can be achieved by medical liability reform. This reform will help with faster resolution of individual claims and reduce frivolous lawsuits which drive up the cost of insurance. Secondly, Republicans believe allowing individuals and businesses to buy health insurance across state lines will create competition and lower costs.
The Democrats seem to agree with the Republicans last proposal to help to lower costs, because they have a similar proposal of their own. The Republicans version of the proposal makes it possible to group individuals and small businesses together so they can afford to buy health insurance at a lower rate as large companies and labor unions do. Whereas the Democrats want to group just individuals together with similar incomes and health issues so they can have an exchange of resources to share.
Although there are significant differences, the Democrats and Republicans health care reform policies, they both agree every American should have health care. This also includes people who have preexisting conditions. I know I have not touched on every issue in this column, but I tried to explain the main sticking points of both sides of the aisle. If you want to write about a certain aspect of health care reform or just health care in general please contact me. Your writings could be a future Around The Water Cooler column.
Your feedback is always valued. AACConsumerNet@aacinstitute.org.
