For The Uninsured, 2 Plans, Many Questions
As Clinton and Obama rival for the position of America’s next possible Democratic leader, health care mandates continue to be the focus for debates. With each approaching a similar goal somewhat differently, they are both consistently vague on how tax credits, subsidies, and other money-making initiatives may help fund their proposed changes.
Clinton’s position, stressing fairness and efficiency, mandates everyone to purchase coverage. According to Obama, this could spell financial ruin for many in the middle class if the cost of insurance wasn’t first significantly reduced.
23-year-old Brandy Coons is among those who are uninsured by choice, banking on free clinics for routine medical services and hospital visits for emergency care. At her age, she says the high costs of premiums don’t make coverage a viable consideration over other needs or wants. Economists working both sides of the debate lack real-world models and base their calculations on a variety of assumptions. What’s missing from the picture is the number of people like Ms. Coons and what kind of economic impact they may have.
In 2006 roughly one sixth of America’s 47 million uninsured came from family incomes of $75,000 or higher. Still other uninsured Americans who make enough to afford coverage suffer from pre-existing conditions. An increasing number of self-employed people are unable to afford individual policies. Most costs incurred by people like Ms. Coons (a taxpayer) result in direct cost transfers to taxpayers on the federal, state, and local levels.
In another type of shift, those privately insured pay higher costs in doctor and hospital fees when they cover uninsured patients. Massachusetts, the only state currently mandating its residents to have health insurance, illustrates the need for clear rigorous penalties that are directly enforceable. Only about 300,000 (an estimated half of) uninsured residents had enrolled by the first deadline.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
News
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment