Presidential Candidates Propose to Brighten Future for Health

Facts about U.S. Health Care:

• In 2005, the U.S. spent $2 trillion on health care, which is 16 % of Gross Domestic Product and $6,697/person.
• Since 1970, health care costs have grown on average 2.5 % faster than U.S. GDP.
• 47 million Americans were uninsured in 2006, an increase of 8.6 million from 2000.
• While about 26 % of the poor spent more than10 % of their income on health in1996, the number increased to 33% by 2003.
• Almost half of health care spending is used to treat just 5 % of the population.

If you have to think twice before your next doctor visit due to expensive medical bills, you are not alone. Skyrocketing healthcare costs keep many Americans from seeking care until they become severely ill. Although employer-provided health insurance is the predominant form of coverage for American families, rising insurance premiums have weakened many companies’ ability to offer comprehensive coverage for employees and their families. Particularly small companies pass on more costs to employees or cannot afford any coverage at all. As health care accounts for a significantly large slice of the U.S. economic pie and health inflation takes an increasing share of taxpayer dollars, health care reform has received considerable attention in 2008 presidential election. The presidential candidate who is able to put forward remarkable and practical proposals for the reform stands a big chance of getting elected.

Various strategies have been presented to improve health system throughout the presidential debates: delivery of more preventive care; better patient care coordination with high-cost or chronic health conditions; more investment in comparative effectiveness research; and implementation of electronic health information technology to reduce errors and increase efficiency. While some candidates proposes to strengthen government’s role in negotiating drug prices, others emphasizes on aligning provider incentives to reward quality care. All proposals aim to provide better access to health care coverage and enhance the quality of care, but which ones can deliver substantial improvements to American healthcare system?

Visit http://www.health08.org/sidebyside.cfm to compare candidates' positions on health care prepared by Kaiser Family Foundation. Let’s cast our votes for the candidate who is committed to carry out health reforms for all Americans.