Expand the Current System to Cover More People
We dont need to rip up theexisting health care system andstart over. We already have thebest high-tech medical centers inthe world and insurance programsin place that cover 85 percent ofAmericans. We can just extendthose proven programs, publicand private, to cover morepeople. We can also give employersfinancial incentives to covermore of their employees. Thefederal government already haseffective health programs for theelderly (Medicare), the poor(Medicaid), low-income children(CHIP) and its own employees. Ifwe expand the eligibility for thoseplans, well be able to cover moreuninsured people with the leastdisruption to those who alreadyhave insurance. Gradually expandingthe current system is themost practical way to cover morepeople without breaking thebudget.
What Should be Done?
Lower the Medicare eligibilityage to 55.Extend the Childrens HealthInsurance Program cutoff age to25.Increase Medicaid funding andraise the income cutoff to coverthe working poor. Open up the federal employeeshealth insurance program to allowindividuals without insurance tobuy coverage at favorable rates. Offer tax incentives for businessesto extend health coverageto part-time and low-wageworkers.
Arguments For This Approach
By expanding existing programsand employer-provided insurancewe can cover most of the uninsured.This is the least disruptive way ofattacking the problem it wontrequire massive changes in howthe health care system operatesor how people get their insurance. People will still be able to picktheir own doctors and health plansand get the same quality of care.
Arguments Against This Approach
This will be an expensive expansionat a time when the federalgovernment already has a budgetdeficit, and we still will end up withsome people uninsured.The Medicare program isalready at risk and will likely gobroke as it deals with aging babyboomers. Adding more people toMedicare will just cause theprogram to collapse more quickly. This will do nothing to controlhealth care costs, which are risingat an outrageous rate.
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