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BARACK OBAMA: HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
Barack Obama has a plan to expand coverage, lower costs, improve care and ensure that no one could be denied care because of a pre-existing condition or illness.
HIS PROPOSALS
Time for Affordable Health Care. Obama says, “My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is that the amount of money you will spend on premiums will be less.…If you are one of 45 million Americans who don’t have health insurance, you will after this plan becomes law.” (Newsday, 5/29/07; Barack Obama speech in Iowa City, Iowa, 5/29/07)
Obama Says He’ll Improve Care, Lower Costs. Obama’s plans “include tackling medical inflation and spiraling health care costs, developing new mechanisms to extend portable, affordable coverage and reforming health care delivery so that it emphasizes prevention and efficiency.” ()
Obama Plans to Cover the Uninsured. Obama proposes to make a public health plan available nationwide for the uninsured, self-employed and small businesses, giving them access to benefits similar to those available to members of Congress. Key features would be guaranteed eligibility; affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles; and quality care standards. ()
HIS RECORD
Obama Supported Reauthorizing SCHIP and Providing Insurance for Millions of Uninsured Children. Obama voted to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for five years, providing an additional $35.2 billion for the program. He also voted for the budget resolution that would have authorized $50 billion to expand the program as well as $9.5 billion for increases in programs such as No Child Left Behind, Pell Grants, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and essential funding for veterans health care. (H.R. 976, Vote 307, 8/2/07; S.Con.Res. 21, Vote 172, 5/17/07)
Obama Voted to Allow Importation of Affordable Prescriptions Drugs from Other Countries. Obama voted to allow senior citizens to import less expensive prescription drugs from other countries, specifically Canada. (S.Amdt. 990 to S. 1082, Vote 150, 5/3/07)
Obama Opposed Giving Insurance Companies Authority to Determine Coverage and Costs. Obama voted against giving insurance companies authority to determine health care coverage and costs, including the power to eliminate consumer protections that are now required under existing state laws, such as cancer screenings and well-child visits. The bill would have resulted in higher premiums for people who need health care the most, such as older workers. (S. 1955, Vote 119, 5/11/06)
Obama Voted Against Cutting Medicaid Funding. Obama voted against a $14 billion, five-year funding cut for Medicaid. The cuts would have resulted in more uninsured and uncompensated care, shifting the burden to employer-sponsored health plans. (S.Amdt. 204 to S.Con.Res. 18, Vote 58, 3/17/05)
Obama Expanded Health Care Coverage for Low-Income Families. When he was a state senator in Illinois, Obama’s bill expanded income eligibility for KidCare and FamilyCare, the state health insurance programs for low-income families. (Public Act 93-0063, 6/30/03)
Obama Opposed Steep Increases in Seniors’ Medicare Premiums. Obama voted to protect seniors from steep increases in Medicare Part B premiums. Seniors faced the increase because Congress increased Medicare payments to physicians but failed to enact savings from Medicare payments to private health plans. (S. 1932, Vote 287, 11/3/05)
Obama Voted to Allow Medicare to Negotiate Lower Drug Prices for Senior Citizens. Obama voted to allow Medicare to negotiate with drug makers for lower prices for senior citizens. Republicans filibustered the bill. (S. 3, Vote 132, 4/18/07)
