OK, it's 'Universal Healthcare' enough for me...
Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 10:25:29 PM PDT
although, I must admit, any system without insurance is my personal preference as it takes the profit out of the pain and suffering of any insured american.
What is Universal enough for me? John Edwards' Universal Coverage through Shared Responsibility.
The following is a notable item of interest to a single woman whose gross income (from a mostly full-time job) is slightly over $11,000 for this entire year. A year in which I will not be able to claim either of my two children for IRS purposes, as they are now both over 18 with jobs of their own (although the older is at home again with a grandchild and fiance). I work in healthcare for a four person clinic serving about 95% Medicare and Medicaid patients. I make $10.00 an hour. I've asked for a raise, but I'm not sure it's possible, considering we get about 30 to 40 cents on the dollar billed to either Medicare or Medicaid. I currently earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and too little to afford my own healthcare insurance.
My M.D.-boss cannot afford healthcare insurance for himself, much less the three employees in his clinic. I know this because I bought his rather new fridge from him, when he lost his home to foreclosure this year due to delays of payments from our regional Medicare carrier for over 3 months.
Here is the part of the Edwards plan that I found refreshing, dollar numbers for income levels for their revamped health insurance for all. It calms my fears that I would be mandated by the federal government to purchase healthcare insurance with dollars I don't have nor does it look like I will be earning in the foreseeable future.
Expand Medicaid and SCHIP:
Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) play essential roles in helping low-income Americans getting the health care they need. Edwards will strengthen the federal partnership with states supporting these programs, committing the necessary federal resources to allow states to expand Medicaid and SCHIP to serve all adults under the poverty line and all children and parents under 250 percent of the poverty line (about $50,000 for a family of four).
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While Edwards in not advocating my personal choice of healthcare reform he is presenting a plan, that if enacted, could be the basis for a future phase-out of insurance-based healthcare.
It's a good a plan as I've been able to find, that appears to have more than passing chance to become legislation and not just a policy plan.
For this alone, I am now choosing Edwards as my primary choice. Outside of ending the Iraq Occupation this is my sole issue this election cycle.