Should Health Insurance Be Compulsory For Everyone
March 1, 2008
This election season health insurance is more important as a topic than ever for the presidential candidates. During Ohio’s presidential debate 16 minutes were devoted to this topic where Clinton and Obama vigorously debated over who could better insure the health of America.
Both candidates want to strengthen employer based health insurance as well as provide more options for people who cannot get insurance through their jobs. Both want health insurance plans to be open to everybody. Reduction in wasteful spending as well as higher taxes to the wealthy are to be means to achieve the aim of universal health care.
The main disagreement among the two frontrunning candidates is whether uninsured people should be forced to buy coverage. Clintons plan is based on an individual mandate just like John Edwards. Obama on the other hand wants compulsory coverage for children via the adults responsible for them. He does not need compulsory coverage for adults.
According to Clinton, Obama’s plan would lead to 15 million uninsured people while Obama says his plan leads to more affordability. Experts do not agree whether an individual mandate is the best thing. Experts also say that not enough information is available to decide which plan is the best one.
