Obama Health care - Obama's Political Gambling

U.S. President Barack Obama health care reform is the core of political campaign, but also for the United States to bring his "change" an important indicator. Although Democrats in Congress occupy advantage, but unable to fulfill Obama's promise to promote health care reform bill before the August congressional recess clearance. Obama delivered a televised speech last week, vowed must be completed within this year health care reform legislation, although the pressure on Congress, and was tantamount to his political reputation as a bet. If you can not end as he put it to complete the legislative, not only a major political defeat, but also shattered the myth of Obama will be declared.

U.S. annual health care expenses of up to 2.2 trillion dollars, which is spending 7,471 dollars per person per year. This is the world's most expensive health care spending, equivalent to the overall U.S. economic output, 16%, 10% higher than Canada or the United Kingdom 8.4%, and estimated that by 2025 the ratio will reach 25% more. Although costly, but high premiums, and now the United States are still 46 million people without health insurance. The rise in the unemployment rate under 14,000 people per day and 1 lost health insurance. The high cost of health insurance, or even become bankrupt and the American people one of the main houses were auctioned.

Obama insisted that health care reform, from their own experience of enlightenment. Obama has repeatedly said that his mother was seriously ill in 1995, the occasion, still worried about inability to pay medical bills, so that he felt deeply, but also better understand the low-income people can not afford medical insurance and pay medical expenses of the bitterness . Therefore, Obama think that government-run health care system will be able to take care of people lack health insurance, but can also promote competition by private insurers to reduce rates in order to reduce the burden on people and companies.

U.S. corporate employee health insurance expenses has become a major competitive obstacle on a way to go bankrupt General Motors, for example, has long been to provide medical insurance for employees accumulated a huge cost, is the culprit leading to huge losses of one. According to the U.S. Centre for Economic Policy Research, a Washington think tank estimates that if the U.S. health care costs can be reduced to the general low level as Canada, the past decade, General Motors can save $ 20 billion.

Although the data that the Canadian health care system has been criticized for long waiting period is too long, decreased quality of care, lack of bureaucracy han, etc., but instigating the people to the United States Republican Party rejected the reasons for health care reform. Recently appeared frequently on a U.S. television advertisements, a Canadian woman in the film complained that she had brain tumors, but the Canadian hospital's waiting period is too long, she could not receive timely treatment, if it is private hospitals moving to the USA surgery, she might well have died. This ad support to many public health system had the American people's confidence shaken.

U.S. Republicans use another secret weapon, is a doctor from Canada Dr. David Gratzer. He criticized the Canadian health care system, one of the most violent people, blaming the ills of public health insurance to spare no effort. President Clinton's term of office 15 years ago to promote health care reform, Waterloo, Dr. Gratzer had played an important role; separated by 15-year push by the Obama health care reform, Dr. Gratzer and arranged in a Republican to the U.S. Congress for evidence, alleged that Obama planned public health insurance and Canada would ultimately go the same fate.

In fact, Obama's health care system and the design is not the same in Canada. Canada is provided by the Government and the monorail system, medical insurance, but Obama has no intention abolish private health insurance, but to public health and private health insurance through the competition to guide health care costs. However, the relevant interest groups have a strong resistance, including the insurance industry, pharmaceutical industry, health care organizations, etc., are worried that the Government will lead the future development of prices and wages affect their interests. Insurers greater concern, is in the public NHI program, the lower its rates will inevitably attract many customers turn to private insurance companies, and the impact of the industry's survival, and finally embarked on a comprehensive public road.

Democrats now control both houses of Congress in the United States an advantage, this should be the best time to pass the bill, but can not get enough votes to allow smooth passage of bills before the recess, mainly within the Democratic Party will control the cost deeply disturbing. Obama's reform program costs staggering, estimated at least the next 10 years, $ 1 trillion of funds, not only to expand the scope of health protection objects and improve the quality of care; also plans to promote research and innovation in medical technology, and to strengthen advocacy preventive medicine, providing health checks and nutrition and health; There is also intends to invest heavily in the development of electronic medical records in order to reduce the incidence of diagnostic errors and ensure patient privacy, and so on.

Democrats on how to raise substantial funds this disagreement, the government deficit will increase even more worried about deterioration, and set off another economic disaster. Congressional Budget Office estimated that, if implemented according to Obama's health care plan, the next 10 years the U.S. government deficit will increase $ 239 billion. This alarming figure that the position of many conservative side hesitant Democratic members of Congress insisted on not coordinated before a viable source of funding should not rush to pass health care reform bill.

In 1993 President Clinton's health reform bill term abortion, one of the reasons is the failure of Congress Clinton refused to compromise. Held in 1994 in the next midterm elections, the Democratic Party and was a result of health reform bounced voters punished, by the Republican Party back after nearly 40 years of House control. Today, Obama's popularity has begun to decline, but vowed to complete the health care reform legislation this year, he will refuse to compromise and begin with? Or compromise in exchange for passage of the bill? The product of compromise they can be accepted for the American voters? Will severely test his political skills.