Edwards on the Health Insurance Stump
[8/24/07]
Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards was one of the first democratic candidates to put forth an actual plan for healthcare reform. He continues to make health insurance a focus of his campaign. And while other candidates seem to be wrestling on how they will negotiate with foreign leaders, Edwards continues to say he will not negotiate with the insurance companies or Big Pharma when it comes to providing affordable health insurance for all Americans.
The former North Carolina Senator has said all along the campaign trail that he disagrees with other candidates who believe the best way to overhaul the healthcare system and provide more Americans with access to affordable health insurance, is to work with insurers and pharmaceutical companies. Those groups have created many of the problems, and have held all the cards for a long time. Edward’s believes they will not give up their power voluntarily or easily.
As a former trial lawyer, Edwards says "I’ been fighting these people my whole life and have beaten them my whole life… the time to talk to them is after you've beaten them."
A comprehensive plan put out by Edwards designed to provide low cost health insurance to all citizens is very similar to the plan that recently went into effect in Massachusetts. As in the Massachusetts mandate Edwards’ proposal calls for employers to provide health insurance to workers or contribute enough to put affordable medical coverage in reach of all workers. The government would pay for health insurance for lower-income people and provide subsidies based on incomes and family size to others.
Edwards also points out that the top insurance companies in the country have shown record profits over the past six years. Under his health insurance reform plan, there would be a cap on the amount health insurance companies can charge for profit and overhead at 15 percent.
Edwards admits his plan to provide health insurance coverage would cost about 90 billion to 120 billion a year. But that could be easily covered by repealing President Bush's tax cuts for people who make more than $200,000 a year.
During a recent campaign appearance in New Hampshire Edwards said "How long are we going to let insurance companies and drug companies run this country?"
Yet Republicans say it is trial lawyers like Edwards who are responsible for the high cost of healthcare and health insurance. A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee said, "Americans are losing access to healthcare because of the 'out-of-control legal system' and frivolous lawsuits…For the 47 million Americans without access to affordable health insurance, who is to blame makes very little difference.
The former North Carolina Senator has said all along the campaign trail that he disagrees with other candidates who believe the best way to overhaul the healthcare system and provide more Americans with access to affordable health insurance, is to work with insurers and pharmaceutical companies. Those groups have created many of the problems, and have held all the cards for a long time. Edward’s believes they will not give up their power voluntarily or easily.
As a former trial lawyer, Edwards says "I’ been fighting these people my whole life and have beaten them my whole life… the time to talk to them is after you've beaten them."
A comprehensive plan put out by Edwards designed to provide low cost health insurance to all citizens is very similar to the plan that recently went into effect in Massachusetts. As in the Massachusetts mandate Edwards’ proposal calls for employers to provide health insurance to workers or contribute enough to put affordable medical coverage in reach of all workers. The government would pay for health insurance for lower-income people and provide subsidies based on incomes and family size to others.
Edwards also points out that the top insurance companies in the country have shown record profits over the past six years. Under his health insurance reform plan, there would be a cap on the amount health insurance companies can charge for profit and overhead at 15 percent.
Edwards admits his plan to provide health insurance coverage would cost about 90 billion to 120 billion a year. But that could be easily covered by repealing President Bush's tax cuts for people who make more than $200,000 a year.
During a recent campaign appearance in New Hampshire Edwards said "How long are we going to let insurance companies and drug companies run this country?"
Yet Republicans say it is trial lawyers like Edwards who are responsible for the high cost of healthcare and health insurance. A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee said, "Americans are losing access to healthcare because of the 'out-of-control legal system' and frivolous lawsuits…For the 47 million Americans without access to affordable health insurance, who is to blame makes very little difference.
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