Senator wants to overhaul health care

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: November 13, 2008

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee intends to push Congress to overhaul the nation’s health care system during the first half of next year.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said "now is the time” for Congress to move on health care. On Wednesday, he made public his own plan for addressing what ails the health care system. It includes several features of President-elect Obama’s plan, such as guaranteed insurance coverage regardless of pre-existing illness. He also would set up an insurance exchange, a sort of government-administered shopping center where people could go to buy coverage.

Senator’s plan

Baucus goes beyond Obama’s plan by requiring everybody to purchase health insurance once affordable options are available. He predicted that such a major difference would get worked out.

The mandate to have health insurance will stop the shifting of costs for care of the uninsured onto those who have health coverage, Baucus said.

"Coverage of all Americans will also make reforms work better, from insurance market reforms to a cost-saving focus on preventive care,” he said. "Those who cannot afford coverage will not be required to purchase it — there will be other options for them.”

Baucus’s 89-page report said the mandate to obtain health coverage would also prevent people from waiting until they get sick to buy insurance.

Baucus would also increase the number of people eligible for Medicaid, the federal-state partnership that provides health care to the poor.

Your thoughts!