Philadelphia Inquirer Examines Health Care Issues In New Jersey Congressional Races

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 13 Oct 2008 - 2:00 PST

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The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday examined the health care proposals of some congressional candidates in New Jersey.

In a Senate race, incumbent Democratic candidate Sen. Frank Lautenberg has sought to reduce health care costs through the promotion of disease prevention and early treatment, according to the senator's staff. He also has worked to prevent insurers from denying applicants with pre-existing conditions and supported widespread implementation of electronic health records. In addition, Lautenberg favors allowing small businesses to pool together to purchase coverage with lower premiums.

Republican senatorial candidate Richard Zimmer also supports small business pooling. He supports providing tax relief to consumers purchasing health insurance, and he would allow people to shop for policies across state lines. "I have an open mind on whether federal regulations would be required as a backstop (to protect buyers of out-of-state health care insurance)," Zimmer said, adding, "Somebody would have to point out to me and state where mandated coverage is inadequate." In addition, Zimmer supports restrictions on medical malpractice lawsuits, which cause rises in malpractice insurance premiums for providers that are passed along to consumers.

Meanwhile, in a House race, Republican candidate for the third Congressional District Chris Myers, the mayor of Medford, said he would allow interstate sales of health insurance and called for "universal access to quality and affordable health care for all Americans." Myers said he is opposed to a government-run health care system. In addition, he would reduce medical paperwork and crack down on Medicare and Medicaid fraud, as well as increase physician and hospital payments from those programs.

Myers' opponent, Democratic state Sen. John Alder, said he would increase funding for medical research, expand preventive health programs and increase provider payments. He also said, "Right now, those of us who have insurance are subsidizing those who don't have insurance," adding, "It would be a lot cheaper to get everybody insured, get people treated early and get the costs under control that way" (Burton, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/9).

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