In health care debate, U-word is back

[TechBear_Seattle]

Who wants to bet this is a direct result of SICKO? Mr. Moore, my hat is off to you!

In health care debate, U-word is back

WASHINGTON - It's been 14 years since first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's health care reform plan sank like a stone, swallowed by fears of a big-government power grab. In the years since, wary presidential candidates at first avoided the issue altogether, then gingerly dipped one toe, then another, back into the pool.

This year, no self-respecting presidential candidate wants to be without a health care overhaul plan, and talk about "universal coverage" is back.

The article continues at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070916/ap_po/health_care_politics

[Burma Jones]

1. Our Manufacturers also need to have universal coverage

The Cold War leftover of strident resistance to anything that smacks of "socialized medicine" is killing our manufacturers by allowing insurance companies to suck off profit.

[JTFrog]

2. The only real Universal

Health Care plan being offered is HR 676. The rest of those pandering to the insurance companies will never ever get my vote.

[BridgeTheGap]

3. I don't think this can happen as long as private carriers are involved

If they can't exclude people for coverage for previous or existing conditions, they will either have to cut into the profit margin (unlikely) or raise rates to existing clients.
One of the key phrases in the debate on healthcare is "affordability." In other words, everyone will have to pay something for coverage. Looks whats happening with seniors now: once they can't afford the drugs they need they simply stop taking them.
I believe the same thing will happen with any plan other than universal single payer coverage (government run & sanctioned - i.e. Canadian system). If people are required to pay premiums for coverage there will be many who opt out entirely leaving us in the same boat we're in now: millions uninsured.

[Mass]

4. It has been back for a while now, at least a couple of years.

However, what is more important is what is behind the label. Very few among the candidates' plans and very few among the projects starting in the different states really deserve the label, as many of them belong to the "health insurance is an obligation" category rather than to the "healthcare is a right" category.

[antigop]

5. Nice way to put it, Mass. Great post! n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. Excellent point n/t