Private Market Care versus Comprehensive National Health Care

Introduction

A majority of the Republican Presidential Candidates supports healthcare provided by private insurance companies, but with changes to the system. There are some proposals that include government participation, but mostly at the state, not federal, level.

Discussion

Their healthcare policies mainly focuses on private insurance, with more competition and choices. The party does not support government-sponsored healthcare, but rather trying to make healthcare insurance more affordable. They want the healthcare system to increase with consumer choice, consumer control and real competition (Berg 22-28). Republicans believe it is important that we have price transparency within our health care system. This offers consumers, who are either enrolled in high deductible health plans or who pay out-of-pocket, the ability to shop around for the best prices and plan for health care expenditures. Senator Brownback of Kansas wrote in his healthcare policy that “the existing health insurance market forces consumers to pay for extra benefits in their premiums, such as aromatherapy and acupuncture, which tends to increase the cost of coverage. Instead, consumers should be able to choose the from health care coverage plans that are tailored to fit their families' needs and values.” Brownback thinks individuals should be allowed to purchase health insurance across state lines.

The Democrat Party wants families without insurance to get coverage at an affordable price. President Obama's goal is to make a public health plan available nationwide for the uninsured, self-employed and small businesses, giving them access to benefits similar to those available to members of Congress. He wants families with insurance to pay less and get more security and choices, and businesses and other employers to find it cheaper and easier to cover their workers. Obama also wants to provide affordable, complete and portable health coverage for every American, modernizing the U.S. health ...