http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-hillaryhealth29forumnbsep29,0,467282.story Hillary Clinton just dropped the universal health care bomb that everyone knew was coming. "I intend to have a universal health care system that does three things lowers costs for everybody, improves quality for everybody and covers everybody."
Well, maybe. But not here on planet Earth.
In fact, a cursory scan of the Western Hemisphere shows that Britain, Canada and other nations with socialized medicine have all made similar promises and consistently failed to deliver.
Hillary's plan requires mandatory participation by everyone in a government system that goes under the euphemism of an "individual mandate."
This "mandate" is nothing more than a law forcing people to acquire insurance either through the government or private sector. The program would require massive federal outlays. Sen. Clinton claims it would cost $110 billion per year, although that number would surely skyrocket. It would be financed through higher taxes.
Sen. Clinton also would require all employers to offer health insurance to their employees or contribute to a government-run insurance pool. Small businesses would receive subsidies. And people would have the option of enrolling in a government-operated plan if they did not want private insurance.
America spends more on health care than other countries, but that's why the U.S. system works without waiting lists and rationing. We receive the best treatments available, which is why our survival rates for most life-threatening diseases including the four most common types of cancer are the highest in the world.
In America now, the poor are already insured by Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Nevertheless, Sen. Clinton claims that we need a government takeover of the health care system because 47 million Americans remain uninsured. But that's a grossly misleading figure.
The Census Bureau's estimate of 47 million "uninsured" is based on a survey question that asks the respondents if they "were not covered by any type of health insurance at any time in that year."
In other words, if you're uninsured for a single day of the year, the government considers you "uninsured."
Second, the Census Bureau includes 10.2 million non-citizens in its estimate. Does Sen. Clinton intend to admit non-citizens into her plan?
Finally, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 19 percent of those without health insurance earn more than triple the federal poverty level but choose to forego coverage. Kaiser also estimates that 25 percent of those without health coverage are eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP but have not signed up.
With scarce government resources, does it make sense to lavish subsidies on folks who make thousands more than the average U.S. family?
When all is said and done, only about 15 million Americans or 5 percent of the population are truly unable to obtain health insurance. And that doesn't mean they must do without medical care when they need it.
It hardly makes sense to jump to a government remedy in order to meet the exceptional needs of just 5 percent of the population when our current system delivers top-notch care to the other 95 percent and some significant level of protection to those who are uninsured.
The vast majority of Americans have coverage that gives them reasonably affordable access to the best health care system in the world. As the debate on Sen. Clinton's plan unfolds, voters should resist the imposition on America of a system that has already failed throughout the world.
Lawrence A. Hunter is a senior fellow at the Institute for Policy Innovation and a former staff director of the congressional Joint Economic Committee.
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You will notice it says it only affects those making $250,000.00 or more per year, according to her interview on ABC's GMA, those affected will be $36,000.00 Per Year, single are married people.
It also does not mention the $5,000.00 Government Bond for every child born, legal or illegal which will be $20,000,000.00 Per Child, not to mention she will open borders with Mexico and Canada.
In the interview she also said she would keep our Soldiers in Iraq for at least her first term, possibly longer if re-elected, that is a 180 degree turn around from where she started.
