It has been said that health is not valued until sickness comes. Today, there are nearly 47 million uninsured Americans, among those are stories in which life and death decisions are being made. Lack of affordable healthcare and rising costs have created a system that leaves people left on the sidelines and feeling frustrated. In the U.S. we have the most expensive healthcare system that money can buy. However, we are one of the few countries in the developed world that has yet to figure out how to provide adequate care for all of it’s’ citizens. According to a recent editorial in the NY Times entitled, Plight of the Uninsured “it is well known, by now, that millions of Americans lacked health insurance for all or part of last year. What is less well known is that 25 million Americans who did have health insurance often found it pitifully inadequate when a medical crisis hit. They were only marginally better off than those who had no coverage at all.” Over half of all personal bankruptcies today are due to medical bills. What’s worse is that we are a very sick nation, 1 in 3 Americans suffer from a chronic condition. Children are currently the most at risk with the rates of autism, diabetes and obesity topping the charts. Add to this, medical errors, high costs of prescription drugs and a complete disregard for preventive medicine. Healthcare has assumed a prominent role in the 2008 presidential race. Democratic and Republican voters differ sharply on a vision for healthcare reform although many agree that everyone should be cared for.

Barack Obama’s plan will eliminate wasteful spending, mandate care for children extending parents coverage to age 25 and will save a typical American family up to $2,500.00 every year on medical expenditures. He will also make available a new national health plan which will offer access to healthcare for the uninsured.

Four key parts to the Obama Health Care Plan:

· Quality, affordable & portable health coverage for all

· Modernizing the U.S. Health Care System to lower costs and improve quality

· Promoting prevention & strengthening public health by emphasizing healthy lifestyles · Roe versus Wade- supports the decision

 

John McCain claims he delivers "straight talk on health system reform." As part of his plan he recommends teaching children about nutrition and fitness, encouraging individuals to prevent chronic illness and deterring smoking. Although he doesn't detail how he will pay for the measures or whether they will be public or private initiatives. It is worth mentioning that McCain sided with President Bush instead of America's kids when he had the chance, voting against a program to give more children health care, primarily to those who are uninsured. He will rely on tax cuts, market forces and consumers themselves to broaden access to coverage, and give a smaller role to employers as a source of coverage. Whiles still having the option of employer-based coverage, every family will receive a refundable tax credit of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to offset the cost of insurance. Four key parts to the McCain Health Care Plan: · The key to health care reform is to restore control to patients themselves · Easier access for individuals to obtain insurance · Establish a guaranteed access plan that would provide coverage to patients who have been denied insurance · Roe versus Wade- wants to overturn it As the political process moves forward and Election Day draws near keep in mind that healthcare is a necessity of life. I urge you to visit each of the candidate’s websites their plans are listed in full detail. You must weigh the pros and cons yourself; in the case of Barack Obama you will find a detailed robust plan 14 pages in total. John McCain offers a meager 4 pages. In my opinion, until health care is no longer profit driven there are no easy answers.

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