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In an op-ed in the Palm Beach Post, Weiner and Larmett point out, "McCainwould provide tax credits (which further enriches the insurance industry) andwould replace policies from employers who now cover pre-existing illnesseswith new individual policies that would not necessarily do so."
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"Sen. Clinton's health plan, on the other hand, institutes a requirementfor everyone to be provided coverage -- not just the opportunity to purchaseif prices ever go lower. Calling voluntary health insurance 'universalcoverage' could be like the current Administration's failed attempt to changeSocial Security to voluntary IRA's," Weiner and Larmett contend. Forty-sevenmillion Americans do not have health insurance. Half of all Americans areunprepared financially to cope with a costly medical emergency.
Weiner and Larmett commend Sen. Obama's gracious nod to Clinton on theissue in his speech June 3rd: "When we finally win the battle for universalhealth care in this country, she will be central to that victory."
Weiner and Larmett note, "We are the only civilized country that does nothave universal medical coverage. Our enormously profitable health insurancecompanies ($60 billion dollars in profits in 2006), drug companies (the topten made $80 billion in 2006), and hospitals ($29 billion profits in 2005)make sure we do not."
The authors contend, "Universal coverage opponents who claim we providethe best care are perpetuating a myth. Mrs. Clinton told the first PresidentBush in 1989 -- showing how long she's been working on this issue - thatAmerica does NOT have the best health care in the world based on key measureslike life expectancy (we are now 47th) and infant mortality (we are 43rd).President Bush did not believe her but the next day slipped Bill a note, 'TellHillary she was right.'"
(Original Article):http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/06/14/m10a_weiner_commentary_0614.html
Contact: Bob Weiner/Rebecca VanderLinde 301-283-0821 or 202-329-1700
SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates
