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BARACK OBAMA
» Our summary of Obama's proposal
How would Obama's plan affect you?
Individuals or families currently covered by health insurance |
» Insurers would be limited in their ability to drop enrollees from coverage when they get sick or become high risk. » Pre-existing conditions could not be used as a reason for dropping enrollees from coverage or charging higher premiums. » Individuals and families unable to pay for health insurance on their own would be provided some type of financial aid, although not specified in Obama’s plan. » Obama’s plan includes actions to improve quality and lower overall health care costs through investments in information technology, improved preventive care, and enhanced Chronic disease » Drug costs for Americans would be reduced through new regulations for drug companies. » Americans would be able to purchase drugs from other developed countries, with measures in place to ensure drug safety. » The recent tax breaks for American households making over $250,000 per year would be eliminated, providing for increased federal funding on health care. |
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Individuals or families currently without health insurance |
» Individuals would not be required to purchase health insurance – even those who can afford health insurance can go Uninsured » A new public health insurance program would be created for poorer Americans who do not qualify for Medicaid » Under the public insurance program, individuals would not be charged higher premiums or denied coverage due to pre-existing health conditions. » Individuals and families unable to pay for health insurance on their own would be provided some type of financial aid, although not specified in Obama’s plan. » A new National Health Insurance Exchange would be created to provide the opportunity for Americans to purchase private health insurance directly from the insurer. » For very poor Americans (not defined in his plan), Obama's plan would offer additional federal funding to expand the Medicare » Obama’s plan includes actions to improve quality and lower overall health care costs through investments in information technology, improved preventive care, and enhanced Chronic disease » Drug costs for Americans would be reduced through new regulations for drug companies. » Americans would be able to purchase drugs from other developed countries, with measures in place to ensure drug safety. » The recent tax breaks for American households making over $250,000 per year would be eliminated, providing for increased federal funding on health care. |
Employers |
» Large and medium-size employers (not defined) would be required to offer health insurance coverage for their employees, or to make some type of contribution to the public health insurance plan he proposes to create. Obama has not released the specifics of the amount that large and medium-size employers would be required to pay. » Small employers would be exempt from the requirement to provide coverage to workers or contribute to the public health insurance plan. » Obama’s plan includes actions to improve quality and lower overall health care costs through investments in information technology, improved preventive care, and enhanced Chronic disease » Drug costs would be reduced through new regulations for drug companies, as well as the ability of Americans to purchase drugs from other developed countries, with measures in place to ensure drug safety. |
Our Summary of Obama's Proposal
Obama’s plan is focused on moving towards more universal coverage of Americans. He would establish a new public insurance program that would be available to Americans who neither qualify for Medicaid
Health program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources or SCHIP
A Federal/State partnership meant to expand health insurance to kids with parents who earn too much for Medicaid but not enough for private insurance nor have access to insurance through their employers. Under this plan no one will be turned away or charged more due to pre-existing conditions, and financial aid will be provided to those unable to afford the premiums on their own. His plan would require that all children have health care coverage, and would expand eligibility and funding for the Medicaid
Health program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources and SCHIP
A Federal/State partnership meant to expand health insurance to kids with parents who earn too much for Medicaid but not enough for private insurance programs.
Obama would also create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help Americans and businesses that want to purchase private health insurance directly. His plan would require medium-size and large employers to contribute towards health coverage for their employees or towards the cost of the public plan, but he does not specify the amount or percentage that employers would have to pay toward coverage for their workers. It would also exempt small employers (yet to be defined) from the requirement that they provide coverage to their workers.
Obama would not require that individuals buy health insurance as has been proposed by other candidates, so adults could choose not to take advantage of his plan and go Uninsured
People who lack public or private health insurance, estimated at 47 million in the U.S. in 2007, even if they could afford coverage. Obama claims that his plan would reduce the health care costs of the average American family by as much as $2500 per year. He estimates that his plan would cost the federal government approximately $50-$65 billion a year. He proposes to pay for this by allowing President Bush’s tax cuts for those making over $250,000 to expire.
Obama’s plan would also focus on improving quality and reducing costs through:
- Driving adoption of state-of-the-art health information technology systems.
- Improving access to preventive care and Chronic disease
A disease that is long lasting and is generally thought of as permanent management programs. - Requiring hospitals to collect and report health care cost and quality data.
- Reforming our market structure to increase competition in the insurance and drug markets.
- Reducing the costs of catastrophic illnesses for employers and their employees.
- Lowering drug costs by allowing importation of safe medicines from other developed countries.
- Increasing use of generics in public programs.
- Requiring coverage of preventive services.
- Increasing state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
- Encouraging Americans to take greater responsibility for their health and to make better health-related decisions.
One controversial element of his plan is to limit the profits of health insurance companies in areas of the country where health insurance is provided by just a few carriers.