David McAfee:
If you turn the channel on your television to any major news network, you may hear the political pundits talking of death panels and communism; but how much do you really know about the status of health care in the United States of America? And what do you know about President Barack Obama’s proposed new system? This cheat sheet will serve as a quick reference guide to facts about the health care debate to stay informed about the issue that pretty much everyone is talking about.
Facts about Today’s System
1. According to the National Coalition on Health Care, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have increased by 131% in the last ten years (this is four times the rate of inflation and wage increases during that decade.)
2. The number of citizens of the United States without health insurance has grown to over 45 million men, women, and children.
3. Extensive polling from the Congressional Budget Office indicates that the cost of health insurance is steadily rising annually and the number one reason people are uninsured is due to the escalating costs of coverage.
4. The National Coalition on Health Care estimates that approximately 1.5 million families lose their homes to foreclosure every year due to unaffordable health costs.
Facts about the President’s Proposed Plan
1. Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom each have a form of Universal Healthcare in effect today.
2. President Obama plans to create a system that will not add to our mounting federal deficit.
3. The plan consists of a centralized national database which would make diagnosis and treatment easier and more efficient.
4. The proposed system will be designed to end discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions and will prevent insurance companies from eliminating patients’ coverage when they are sick.
5. Most polls indicate approximately 55% of Americans approve of the public health care option.
Now that you know the facts, it’s up to you to make an informed stance on the most popular and thought-provoking debate of the year. You are now equipped with the knowledge necessary to begin your own research on the topic or at very least carry on a conversation with your peers.
For something related check out Ole Today’s: You Can’t Spell Health Care Without Care or Obama Heckled During Health Care Speech
You are a god when it comes to clearly demonstrating political knowledge and your writing is unmatched. I want to have your baby!
Lucid explanation of a complex topic!
I feel as though I’ve been enlightened. Thanks!