RSS Feed MenuTens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. Extending coverage to them has been a core goal of health reform proposals since the 1960s. President Richard Nixon offered a universal health plan in his first administration, but since then Republicans have hesitated to commit the nation to so costly an undertaking. Is it time to rethink? Should Republicans accept universal coverage as a goal? We posed this question to NewMajority’s contributors.
I am somewhat ambivalent on this question, but I’m inclined towards thinking that Republicans should not endorse the concept of universal coverage. The key principle for Republicans on healthcare should be keeping costs low through a competitive private healthcare insurance market, and mandating that all Americans buy health insurance (with or without subsidies) will substantially increase demand, thereby raising prices.
To read other contributions to this symposium, click here.
Should Republicans Endorse Universal Health Coverage? // Aug 24, 2009 at 1:03 pm
[...] Trager, Universal Coverage, No. Low Health Costs, Yes The key principle for Republicans on healthcare should be keeping costs low through a competitive [...]
debs // Aug 24, 2009 at 1:17 pm
“…mandating that all Americans buy health insurance (with or without subsidies) will substantially increase demand, thereby raising prices.”
Um…NO, Mr. Trager. Not if the individual mandate and subsidies is accompanied–as is proposed in the Democratic bills–with tight regulation of the insurance industry, especially eliminating adverse selection and other perverse practices (perverse in the literal meaning of the word, as in different from customary business norms). That’s what will keep prices down. That’s how the Dutch and Swiss limit prices in their private insurance markets. Of course, a public plan would do that too–but, fine, let’s not have that argument. Suffice it to say that you have to combine regulation, subsidies, and a universal mandate. Presto–you’ve done it! You given the United States universal coverage via a rough analogy–not as carefully done–with the way the Swiss and Dutch do it.
Not so hard is it? And you can still call yourself a conservative, just like the conservatives over their do, while looking at yourself in the mirror the next morning, too.