By Maggie Bahrmasel and Evan Giesemann
College democrats
During Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency last year, he declared health-care reform a top priority. Today, almost eight months after coming into office with the support of a wide majority of Americans, Obama is in the middle of the biggest policy fight of his political career. He is pushing for the most prominent changes in our health care structure since Medicare was implemented in 1964. Although it has not been an easy few months, the rest of the year may very well be just as difficult. The President is continuing to push for what he advocated during the campaign: a better health-care system that is fair for the American people.
Our health-care and insurance industries are long overdue for major reform. Currently, over 46 million Americans are without health care coverage, and millions more are underinsured. Additionally, skyrocketing prices, limited coverage, and underwriting are hurting average Americans who do have some form of insurance. Small businesses are struggling because they cannot afford health care for their workers, and people are constantly being dropped from their coverage due to a pre-existing condition. The need for reform is obvious, and this administration is completely invested in fixing these complex issues this year.
Last week, Obama addressed the members of Congress to clearly and forcefully lay out his plan and dispel the many rumors that have been plaguing this debate. By dismissing the fear-mongering falsehoods that were spread by the Republican Party all summer, he was able to bring the discussion back to the real issues facing real Americans. Though there are many proposals floating around Congress right now, the president outlined the components he expects to see in the bill he will sign.
First, Obama draws a line in the sand when it comes to covering people with pre-existing conditions. He will not support a plan that still allows insurance companies to underwrite those with previous illnesses or conditions. Additionally, any bill he signs must eliminate extra charges for preventative care so that medical problems will be caught before they become too serious.
The president also stressed the need for more competition in the health insurance marketplace. He offers the idea of a government-run public insurance option to compete with current private insurance providers. It would drive down costs of private health care simply by adding more competition to the marketplace. This public option, the most controversial aspect of Obama's proposal, is just that—an option. Nobody would be required to switch from their current insurance plan to the public plan. It is simply a choice for people who cannot afford any other type of coverage.
Initially the president wanted to be able to sign a health care reform bill into law before the August recess. Instead, it is now mid-September and it is unclear if Congress will be able to come to a consensus in the next two months. Every day that goes by without the passing of a strong reform bill is another day that countless Americans are unable to get the health care they need.
It is now more important than ever that supporters of reform mobilize and show our representatives in Congress that we as Americans expect progress. Average Americans overwhelmingly support reform of the health care system. But it's not enough to simply want change: we must act. We must contact our representatives and voice our opinions. Pressure from the fringe right-wing of the country dominated the debate all summer; it is time to reclaim the discussion for the victims of the current system. The time for action is now. We must mobilize to push for real reform, or risk being stuck in the same broken system for decades to come.
Maggie Bahrmasel and Evan Giesemann are both members of the College Democrats. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
