U.S. Must Provide Everyone With Affordable, Quality Health Care To Stimulate A 'New Economy,' Emanuel Writes

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 20 Mar 2008 - 12:00 PDT

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In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece on Wednesday, House Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) proposes a "New Deal for the New Economy" plan, which includes changes to the U.S. education and health care systems and the development of new energy-efficient technologies. Emanuel writes that if the U.S. fails to address health care to "reduce the daunting competitive burden" on U.S. employers, "every major employer will move more good jobs overseas."

As part of his proposed plan, Emanuel writes that the U.S. would "ensure that all Americans have quality, affordable health care." According to Emanuel, the first step toward universal health care coverage should be "building on the success of Medicare, Medicaid and [SCHIP], guaranteeing universal health care to the two groups most at risk:" children and people between the ages of 55 and 64, who are not yet eligible for Medicare. According to Emanuel, SCHIP "should be for children what Medicare is for the elderly -- a universal health care program." He adds that covering all children is a "moral responsibility" and will "address working parents' greatest worry." Helping older workers and employers "manage the health costs of early retirees will make it possible for entire sectors of the U.S. economy to get back on their feet," he writes.

In addition, "If we don't reform health care to give workers more security" and reduce health care costs for U.S. employers, "manufacturing workers in Ohio and Pennsylvania won't be the only ones feeling shafted" (Emanuel, Wall Street Journal, 3/19).

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