The healthcare system in our nation has been a matter of great debate during the 2008 presidential election year. Every candidate is talking about reforming the health care system. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are speaking of universal healthcare, while John McCain speaks about limited health care coverage. Americans are tired of the current health system where health insurance companies and healthcare providers profit at the taxpayers’ expense.
While the candidates Obama and Clinton aren't recommending government doctors, government medical centers or government hospitals; they are proposing wider healthcare coverage. They would like to implement a system that gives all Americans some type of health insurance and they want consumers to have choice from an assortment of plans.
The health insurance plans would contain private insurance plans in addition to government plans similar to Medicare. The lower-middle income individuals would pay monthly premiums. Big employers, excluding small businesses would be part of the system and contribute towards the system.
Everyone who is able to contribute to the healthcare system will contribute to the new system in the form of taxes. Also, to help fund the new healthcare, the two Democratic candidates have promised to terminate income tax cuts passed by President George Bush for household incomes exceeding $250,000. The excess revenue generated would help in paying for more health coverage.
The main difference between the two Democratic candidates' healthcare plan is who would be covered by the insurance. While Obama wants to cover only children, Clinton would like to provide every American with coverage. Unfortunately, all of the candidates are talking about a healthcare system that is not truly universal, it is not comprehensive enough.
America has had a private healthcare system for decades, and it has failed the people every step of the way. No candidate is truly talking about a transformative system on the lines of a European system. Whoever is the new president, it is clear that major components of the current system will continue in the new system, even the profiteering components that are parasitic to our existing system.
The new approach is not derived from other countries but builds upon an existing foundation. But how can we build a new health care system upon a weak foundation, the current foundation should be crumbled and a new one built with the profiteering component excluded completely from the new system, only then can we have a truly universal healthcare system. Healthcare is not a privilege but a right of every American, and it is the duty of the government to provide a sustainable and comprehensive healthcare to its people.