The Young May Be Hardest Hit
September 13, 2008
The campaign to provide guaranteed health coverage that is affordable seems unreal. Barack Obama’s campaign does not take into account illness or condition. According to Obama’s proposal a National Health Insurance Exchange would exist. This would be like a shopping mall run by the government – for health insurance. Prices would be negotiated with private insurers by this NHIE. A government run Medicare like plan would also be offered.
Participating companies could not turn someone away due to their medical conditions. These conditions would also not result in a higher premium. This concept is not a new one. However where it has been tried, it has run into trouble. After insurers left Kentucky and South Dakota have had to drop their guarantee. Where this coverage continues, young healthy people have to pay a high premium.
However Massachusetts has had a degree of success in keeping premiums down. According to Obama, his 60 billion dollar plan depends more on tax increases on the wealthy and is not comparable to anything out there. Large government subsidies will pay for the insurance. In addition electronic health records and such programs are to lower health costs.
For Obama’s plan to work, younger, healthier people will need to buy insurance. This is not easy. There is a lot more to the campaigns than meets the eye, buts for everyone’s sake lets hope the best candidate wins.
