Friday, March 6th, 2009
Yesterday, the White House announced a series of health care forums around the country to get people involved in planning health care reform. This means the nation is about to engage in a fight over health care worthy of the World Wrestling Federation.
Although there will be details beyond counting, there are three basic approaches being promoted. One is the “market-based” or “consumer-driven” plan favored by conservatives. This would phase out employee-based health benefits and most government programs, forcing nearly all Americans into the private insurance market.
At the other end of the spectrum is a “single payer” approach, which would phase out private health insurance companies and pay for medical costs through a government fund. This approach has already been declared “off the table” by the Obama Administration, however.
President Obama is attempting to find a middle way between extremes with a program that would preserve employee health benefits while making premiums lower. His other objectives:
• Providing coverage for the 46 million Americans who do not have health insurance.
• Cutting the costs of Medicare and Medicaid, which are now eating the budgets of the federal and state governments.
• Shifting the focus of health care to emphasize disease prevention over disease treatment.
• Trimming cost through the use of technology to share medical information. It is anticipated this could reduce unneeded tests and procedures and eliminate many mistakes.
Congress and the Obama Administration will try to craft a policy that will combine government programs and the private health insurance industry to cover everyone. This is not going to be easy. Now would be a good time to contact your senator and representative to ask that whatever policy is adopted will ease the financial burdens on mesothelioma patients and their families.
Barbara O’Brien
March 6, 2009
