Entries

Who Opposes Government-Operated Healthcare?

In Michigan, it's organized labor . In Michigan, it's organized labor .

Written by David Frum on Monday August 24, 2009

Reject Universal Coverage, Offer Targeted Reforms

The GOP seems to have successfully exploited the resistance to Obama's planned comprehensive makeover of the healthcare system. However, it is well past time for the GOP to offer a positive agenda on healthcare as well. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to …

Written by Henry Clay on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage: Not a Right, Nor a Conservative Obligation

To insist upon guaranteed universal healthcare for every living person in America is to insist that healthcare is a universal right, which it is certainly not. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since …

Written by Tom Qualtere on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage: Avoid Big Promises on Healthcare

Conservatives and Republicans need to think through alternative proposals. But let’s avoid, however, big, sweeping promises – like insuring everyone. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since the 1960s. …

Written by David Gratzer on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage Will Only Lead to a Single Payer System

Allowing the government to compete with private insurers would be the first step towards an ultimate take-over of the entire healthcare system by the "single payer" entity... Uncle Sam. Once a program of this magnitude is enacted, it can never, ever, be repealed. Tens of millions of Americans …

Written by Brad Schaeffer on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage, No. Low Health Costs, Yes

The key principle for Republicans on healthcare should be keeping costs low through a competitive private healthcare insurance market. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since the 1960s. President …

Written by Eric Trager on Monday August 24, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Disgrace It's Taken So Long

If American conservatives continue to oppose universal health insurance coverage, they will remain the outliers of the civilized world. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since the 1960s. President …

Written by Eugene Debs on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Recipe for Deficits Over the Horizon

Once enacted government entitlement programs grow and expand. Medicare covers more people and services than when it was first enacted. SCHIP has been expanded to cover children in households above the poverty level. The Senate Finance Committee is considering a similar expansion of Medicaid. …

Written by Lloyd Green on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Care: Not Now, Not Later

The answer must be no. We have only to look at Europe, or North of the Border, or to Medicare and Medicaid, to see what the assumption that government will require and provide healthcare to all citizens does to conservative parties. They become unconservative. Tens of millions of Americans lack …

Written by John Vecchione on Sunday August 23, 2009

The Lockerbie Question

If the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber was made in London, not Scotland, when did the Obama administration first learn of it and what did it say? We are very far as yet from knowing the full truth of this story. If the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber was made in London, not …

Written by David Frum on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: Fix Old Problems Before New

Before anyone starts suggesting universal coverage, the American people want to see waste and inefficiency wrung from the current system. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since the 1960s. President …

Written by Crystal Wright on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: One Man's Story

Relying on emergency rooms to provide universal care is probably the most expensive kind of healthcare, tackling problems when they are more serious and therefore more costly. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform …

Written by Dennis Sanders on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Fait Accompli

As other contributors have pointed out, our current system of universal coverage is called: “show up at the emergency room.” So as long as everyone is promised some level of insurance—emergency visits—why not have everyone pay? Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending …

Written by Stephen Richer on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: Make it Our Bill

Republicans should embrace universal healthcare by supporting the Wyden-Bennett Healthy Americans Act. There is no another viable way to get rid of the tax-free treatment of employer-provided healthcare benefits that is severely distorting the healthcare market. Tens of millions of Americans …

Written by Tom Church on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: Code for a Comprehensive Plan

Should Republicans create a plan and sell it as the "universal healthcare" plan that the Democrats are refusing to pass because of their bickering? No, and here's why: "universal" is another word for "comprehensive", and "comprehensive", as we learned from the immigration debate of 2007, means "a …

Written by Thomas J. Marier on Sunday August 23, 2009

Universal Coverage: Unaffordable and Unpopular

The U.S. has a system of universal coverage now - it's called "show up at the emergency room" - and while it is far from perfect, the overwhelming majority actually seem pretty content with it - at least any time we get down to the specifics of some other form of "universal coverage." Tens of …

Written by Bradley Smith on Saturday August 22, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Personal Ambivalence

Because medical care means life and death something needs to be done to keep costs down and make sure that people can get coverage - especially for catastrophic illnesses. I remember the days when for a 20 minute doctor's visit we would pay $150 - which to me is outrageous. Tens of millions of …

Written by Elise Cooper on Saturday August 22, 2009

Universal Coverage: Endorse the Concept

The goal of the Republican Party should be to see everyone covered, not through government healthcare, but through government systematically breaking down the barriers to a competitive health insurance market in the U.S. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to …

Written by Zac Morgan on Saturday August 22, 2009

Universal Coverage: A Policy Not a Program

Republicans should rally vocally for universal healthcare coverage - and then work hard to remove the tax and regulatory barriers that impinge on the market for private health insurance. Universal coverage can be a goal of public policy without being a federal program or mandate. Tens of …

Written by Kenneth Silber on Saturday August 22, 2009

Universal Opportunity, Not Universal Coverage

Universal health coverage is possible to achieve although I would call it "Universal Opportunity." High deductible, catastrophic coverage could be achieved for the 10 to 15 million truly unable to afford care. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has …

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Saturday August 22, 2009