Obama: Trying to Make Health Care Simple

07.10.2008

Obama's answer about health care reform came straight from the speech he gave a few days ago--which, as I wrote at the time, was very strong.

While the scheme Obama supports is necessarily complicated, I think his two-step explanation makes sense: If you have insurance and like it, you get to keep it; if not, you can buy the same insurance I have. His critique of McCain's plan was spot-on, too. The reference to business groups opposing McCain's plan is a reference to this terrific piece by Kevin Sack, in today's New York Times.

Meantime, McCain is trotting out the same old arguments he's been making all along: It's government! It's mandates!

I did like his argument about "responsibility," which I agree is important: Everybody has a responsibility to pay what they can for their health insurance.* But that works both ways. We, as a society, have a responsibility to make sure everybody can get insurance. McCain's plan won't do that.

*Note: Forcing everybody to pay what they can for health insurance is why I support an individual mandate, something Obama opposes. Thanks to reader "ryanmacd" for reminding me about that.

--Jonathan Cohn

Posted: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 9:52 PM with 4 comment(s)

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ryanmacd said:

Wasn't the entire discussion during the primaries about Obama NOT supporting mandates? Is it worth mentioning that?

October 7, 2008 10:04 PM

adaglas said:

I admittedly don't have my finger on the pulse of mainstream America (what with being a big-city liberal elitist and all), but I don't think the specter of "government run health care" is quite the bogeyman it used to be. You can only realize that everybody else is doing something more efficiently than you are and still hold out for so long.

October 7, 2008 10:27 PM

joelandersson said:

What I always wonder when politicians talk about "choice", who's choice do they mean? The middle class as McCain defined as anybody earning less that half a million a year?

The way I see it choice in health care in America is only available to those who can afford it. For many working class Americans, the only choice they have is whether to put food on the table or having health insurance. As the system is now, they can't have both....

October 7, 2008 11:20 PM

moldndecay said:

I also wonder what this "choice" is. I cant afford to shop on the open market for health insurance as its just too expensive for a single payer. So, by grouping with my other co-workers I get lower rates. But, then Im beholden to the plan the company has. The company will shop for to get the most benefit for the least amount of dollars, as would an individual. So my "choice" is whatever plan the company has? I guess in the most fundamental way I have a choice of, single payer and dont eat, or the companies plan of which I had no involvement in picking.

I recently moved to a new job, Yay!

Got a pay raise, Yay!

Work fewer hours, Yay!

My insurance premium went up, Boo!

My insurance co-pay went up, Boo!

The insurance is mediocre at best, fuck me. :(

My yearly physical went from a $20 dollar co-pay with my old insurance to $515 because the new insurance doesnt feel that preventative medicine is worth it. So Im living the American dream right? New job, more money, fewer hours, less travel. But my gains are eroded by health care. So two steps forward, one step back. And why? Because in reality I dont have a "choice".

October 8, 2008 12:17 PM