Popular Republican Candidate for President and Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has released his ideas for reforming the healthcare delivery system. The ex- Mayor sees a transformation from our current system. Instead of one that relies heavily on employers being responsible for providing affordable health insurance benefits to their employees, to one that creates a free market that will allow consumers to take a more active role in securing their own low cost health insurance.

The cornerstone of his program is to provide significant tax advantages to those who purchase their own healthcare insurance. Far from the proposals on the left that seek to have the government take on a more significant role in providing affordable health insurance coverage to the uninsured, Giuliani sees that as the consumers responsibility. His plan will make it easier for people to take charge of their own healthcare costs, and their own health insurance costs. Under his proposed plan a family could receive tax credits up to $15,000.00. They can then use these funds to purchase medical insurance or cover healthcare expenses. With more consumers with the ability to shop for private health insurance, the theory is this will make rates more competitive, and create a market for more affordable health insurance. 

While the ex-Mayor is opposed to any kind of mandated health insurance coverage as in Massachusetts, he does say that he supports vouchers for the working poor who may not benefit enough from tax credits alone to purchase health benefits.

While he has yet to outline specifics of his plan, in recent speeches Mr. Giuliani has taken the opportunity to draft this as his vision. And he wants voters to be sure that it is a vision that stands in serious contrast to the proposals of the democrats that emulate the “socialized” medicine model of foreign countries. He says a Canadian style national health insurance plan here would be a disaster, and would bankrupt the Federal Government in short order.  

Mr. Giuliani has said that by in effect loading the healthcare insurance consumer’s wallet with $7500.00 to $15,000.00 and then allowing them to shop for medical insurance will force health insurance companies to compete for those dollars. Prices will have to come down.

Mr. Giuliani realizes that his idea will not cover all of those currently without medical insurance. But unlike plans on the left, he feels his concepts will have an immediate effect to reduce the costs of healthcare insurance, and that is the best place for real reform to start.