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Universal health gains traction

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The drumbeat is getting louder: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, San Francisco (and possibly California) took action on the issue of covering the uninsured this year, gaining traction for reforms that might have been shot down with little comment a few years ago. Among the highest-profile changes is taking place in Massachusetts, where legislators are looking at a mix of Medicaid expansion efforts, required purchase of insurance and employer incentives to fund health coverage for all citizens. Other states, such as Illinois and Maryland, are considering related measures.

Meanwhile, interest in a federal universal healthcare measure seems to be rising. For example, a universal coverage plan by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, which would call for offering access through a pool of private insurance plans, has attracted some support from both conservative and liberal legislators. While Wyden's plan may not be the horse that crosses the finish line, it seems likely that there will be some significant federal health access reforms, so fasten your seat belt. This will be a critical issue to track in the coming year!

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Universal healthcare while a socialist dream is a nightmare to the consumer. Most people in the US have no experience with "universal" healthcare. Having spent several years in the UK I saw the disaster, which is similar to that in Canada. Long waits for service, poor quality in the UK and as with all government programs, poor management. If universal healthcare is so great, then why are Canadians as well as the British flocking to the few private hospitals in their countries....Also universal healthcare IMHO leads to over utilization by the consumer, the same problem we have with Medicaid. The social worker tells the consumer it is free and they do not use it, they abuse it. This Robin Hood theory that we can take from those who produce in this country and give their work away is a joke. Look at Medicare as well as Social Security. We are rapidly approaching the point of melt down in these programs because too much is being given and there are not enough producers.

Real healthcare reform will come about when the government gets out of the healthcare business with a few exceptions (military, veterans and Native Americans). States that play the Robin Hood game in mandating that all employers must provide healthcare will end up destroying the economy of their state.

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