Health Insurance Articles

Obama’s Latest Decisions on Health Care Insurance and Reform

2009-06-17

President Obama has been careful not to take too aggressive of a stance on dealing with health care insurance reform; rather he has been doing the opposite. Being careful and slow to act, Obama is feeling his way meticulously through the quagmire that is the country’s current health care crisis.

The President had tasked members of Congress with writing new health insurance legislation, but the process stalled when lack of guidance from the White House caused conflicts and confusion about what the President wanted. Members of Congress slated to write this new health care legislation are at a loss without absolute answers to questions like: Would President Obama accept new taxes on health benefits? What role and level of authority would individual states have in the health insurance process? How much should individuals expect to pay out of pocket for services?

Slowly building on the momentum of a recent visit to Wisconsin where health care reform was discussed, as well as an upcoming speech to the American Medical Association conference, President Obama has been treading carefully when speaking in absolutes regarding health insurance. It is clear that the current administration wishes to engage doctors and the public in reform discussions, but in the past the White House has only offered generalities when asked specific questions about health care insurance reform. The party line about access to quality and affordable health insurance isn't helping to achieve progress.

While right now there seem to be more questions than answers regarding health insurance reform, some questions have been addressed. When the White House proposed paying for universal health care through limiting charitable deductions, it was quickly shot down.

For now, the only direct action the President seems to be taking toward having a health insurance measure passed through Congress by August is to rebuke critics. Realizing that he’s not likely to make everybody happy with all parts of the reform, Obama did say that if we do nothing: "Our deficits will be higher. Our premiums will go up. Our wages will be lower, our jobs will be fewer and our businesses will suffer." He has made it clear that action needs to be taken.

The President has also stated that he is not interested in a kind of socialized medicine, like that found in Britain. Forcing people to pay for services that they already have and are happy with is not an option.

The country seems to be waiting for what is sure to be a huge battle regarding health care insurance reform. The only questions are: what will ignite the fight and when will it begin? Perhaps Obama’s lack of direct action is an effort to stave off the inevitable, at least until he has additional ideas to present to the public.