The good news is that this is seriously bad news for John McCain in Virginia, where more than a million people are uninsured and health care premiums are rising at four times the rate of median earnings. Families USA report
If I didn't think McCain's health care reform ideas were so nutty, I'd almost feel sorry for the man. Could there be a worse time to be stuck with a "let's allow the private market solve this thing" health reform plan. Oops.
Easily-squelched pity aside, now is the time to start highlighting for Viginia voters the differences between McCain and Obama on this issue.
At the heart of McCain's plan is the notion that we can solve the health care crisis in this country by getting rid of employer-based coverage, and sending people to go out and navigate on their own in the wilderness of an unregulated individual insurance market. It already isn't a pretty place and would be even worse if McCain got his way and further undercut the paltry regulation that exists in this market.
I had to buy individual coverage once and, frankly, I'd rather go on a moose hunt with Sarah Palin than try it again. If you are young and healthy, you are golden. My husband, for example, has been actively solicited by insurance companies to buy coverage. The secret? He runs 60 miles a week and is a voracious reader of Marathon and Beyond.
As for the rest of us... Many companies won't sell you individual coverage if you have diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or some other condition actually requiring medical care. If they will sell it to you, you should be prepared to pay a small fortunate or to give up on coverage for any pre-existing conditions.
In sharp contrast, the Obama plan would strengthen employer-based coverage and establish a range of private and public options for those without access to employer-based coverage. And, he would increase, rather than undercut, government regulation to ensure that plans could not turn people away from coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
This should sound far more promising to Virginia voters than heading into the wilderness with the McCain/Palin team.
It's obvious the Obama people caught on to this one too.
I still wonder what they'll do to fund the projects, since neither Obama nor McCain have suggested how to pay for increased access to insurance coverage. They both claim to have a means of doing so, but I don't see that elaborated anywhere! I also wonder where the congressional candidates stand on the issue, since their support will be critical to getting reform laws rolling, and to seeing them pass. If you wonder, too, you should check out http://www.yourcandidatesyourh... and view the candidates' responses to questions about increased funding for research and health care reform (Obama and McCain have answered). If your congressional candidates haven't answered the questions, we might wonder whether they see the health care issue in the same light that we do!