Our Political and Philosophical Stance

The Obama-Biden health care plan is aligned with what we believe as a group in regards to health care; that all people in this country should have access, and that the coverage should be affordable.
Examples of managed care systems are the multiple Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) that are directly connected to hospitals and physicians throughout the nation. When a person is a member of an HMO they will be covered financially for their health care services if they see the doctors and go to the hospitals that are aligned by contract with that Health Maintenance Organization. As health educators we naturally place high value on preventive health care. Studies show that the most socioeconomically under served in our nation, when covered by social health care services like medicaid, utilize more preventive health care services like pap smears, mammograms and prenatal care for women, as well as increased influenza vaccines and diabetic screenings. Many of these State and Federally funded health care plans utilize the HMOs already in place within those states.
Although the HMO model is being utilized within so many federally funded state regulated medicaid programs not all people have access. HMOs and other managed care organizations and systems were set up to manage the rising costs of health care for individuals and employers. The rising cost of health care is making it very difficult for major employers in the United States to compete in a global economy. While managed care systems were set up to slow down rising costs they have not been effective enough.
So many of the Americans that are uninsured are the working poor who either do not have access to health care through their jobs, or can't afford the plans that are offered. President Obama's most recent plan to offer all Americans a publicly funded health care option is answering the call for change in health care. We as a group support this extremely important piece of legislation. While managed care systems tried to slow down costs, they have not done nearly enough to ensure that all people have access to health care.
As a group we do not believe that the health care crisis can be solved privately. Health care is a human right, and needs to be ensured publicly through a federal program like Medicare, but for all people.

With an emphasis on primary care, preventive care and access to generic drugs, as well as coverage of pre-existing conditions, we feel that the Obama-Biden plan covers all the important bases. Instead of decreasing the health care options of the insured like HMOs and other managed care systems, President Obama's plan is increasing and expanding options to Americans in health care by allowing them to choose between a federally funded health care option like medicare, and their own private insurance. This plan could open the door to universal health care coverage in this nation, which is excruciatingly overdue. What is most important is that all people have access and are covered.

Author: Sarah UW

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/health_care/