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 Richard Nixon offered a universal health plan in his first administration, but since then Republicans have hesitated to commit the nation to so costly an undertaking. Is it time to rethink? Should Republicans accept universal coverage as a goal?  We posed this question to NewMajority's contributors.

I am somewhat ambivalent on this question, but I'm inclined towards thinking that Republicans should not endorse the concept of universal coverage.  The key principle for Republicans on healthcare should be keeping costs low through a competitive private healthcare insurance market, and mandating that all Americans buy health insurance (with or without subsidies) will substantially increase demand, thereby raising prices.

To read other contributions to this symposium, click here.