Senator Clinton’s Health Plan: Rearranging the Status Quo
October 3rd 2007 06:15
“Here in America people are dying because they couldn’t get the care they needed when they were sick,” U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Hilary Clinton said as she unveiled her health care plan on September 17, 2007. “I’m here today because I believe it is long past time that this nation had an answer. I believe America is ready for change. It’s time to provide quality affordable health care for every America. And I intend to be the president who accomplishes that goal finally for our country.” Clinton continued.
Clinton’s plan, dubbed “American Health Choices Plan,” would require individuals to “get and keep insurance in a system where insurance is affordable and accessible,” according to her website. The plan would also “Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP).” The plan is almost identical to the Massachusetts state plan, “Health Care for All.”
Beginning in July 2007 the state of Massachusetts required people to purchase insurance if they can afford to, and penalizes them if they do not. The state government provides subsidies to private insurance so more people can afford to buy health insurance. Businesses with more than ten employees will be fined up to $295 per employee per year if they do not provide insurance.
Critics point out that not everyone without insurance will be able to find health plans that are affordable. The average Massachusetts policy costs $4,500 per year for an individual, and over $11,000 for a family. The Census Bureau’s data reveals that of the 748,000 who lack insurance in Massachusetts only 12.4 percent are either affluent enough to afford it, or qualify for low-premiums because they are under 35.
Another problem with the Massachusetts plan sited by critics is that the politicians who crafted the plan only assumed there are 500,000 uninsured in Massachusetts, but according to the Census Bureau there are 748,000. The politicians derived the 500,000 figure from a phone survey conducted in English and Spanish, but the Census Bureau conducted theirs door-to-door in many other languages besides English and Spanish.
Clinton’s plan, dubbed “American Health Choices Plan,” would require individuals to “get and keep insurance in a system where insurance is affordable and accessible,” according to her website. The plan would also “Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP).” The plan is almost identical to the Massachusetts state plan, “Health Care for All.”
Beginning in July 2007 the state of Massachusetts required people to purchase insurance if they can afford to, and penalizes them if they do not. The state government provides subsidies to private insurance so more people can afford to buy health insurance. Businesses with more than ten employees will be fined up to $295 per employee per year if they do not provide insurance.
Critics point out that not everyone without insurance will be able to find health plans that are affordable. The average Massachusetts policy costs $4,500 per year for an individual, and over $11,000 for a family. The Census Bureau’s data reveals that of the 748,000 who lack insurance in Massachusetts only 12.4 percent are either affluent enough to afford it, or qualify for low-premiums because they are under 35.
Another problem with the Massachusetts plan sited by critics is that the politicians who crafted the plan only assumed there are 500,000 uninsured in Massachusetts, but according to the Census Bureau there are 748,000. The politicians derived the 500,000 figure from a phone survey conducted in English and Spanish, but the Census Bureau conducted theirs door-to-door in many other languages besides English and Spanish.
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