Republican Party Ninth District
Sally Forest

"TAKE TWO ASPIRIN…"

Our health care system delivers the best care in the world along with some of the stickiest problems in high costs and inefficiencies. A Harris Poll showed health care second only to Iraq as the most important issue Americans want the government to address. The complexities, however, are enough to give me a migraine.

For most adults, the top health-related issue they want presidential candidates to address is coverage for the uninsured. Some 47 million people are without insurance - no Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, military, or private coverage. The recent Census Bureau report on Insurance Coverage in the United States says the number and percentage of uninsured increased from 44.8 million in 2005, to 47 million in 2006, and from 15.3 percent of the population in 2005 to 15.8 percent in 2006. The percentage has trended slowly upward since 1987 from 13 percent to 15.8.

Honestly, the trend is surprising. Despite twenty years of what many view as a disturbing trend toward government control over medicine, the uninsured percentage has not gone down. A high percentage of those without health insurance are employed. About 80 percent say they do not have insurance because they cannot afford it. According to the Institute of Medicine, those without insurance are more likely to die prematurely; less likely to receive the same care in an emergency; and less likely to have early detection tests.

The 84 percent with insurance are also affected. Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said some Americans are afraid to change jobs or start their own businesses for fear of losing health insurance. Employees say wages are stagnant; employers say they have to pay more in compensation costs.

Are only the Democrats interested in finding solutions that work for all Americans, as one local Democrat wrote? Democrats have health reform plans for sure. So do Republicans. What Republicans do not have are any plans for federal-government controlled health care. Thank goodness.

Both parties' Presidential candidates tout "affordable and accessible" health care. Who's against that? However, Democrats support reforms that are government-based and impose expanded requirements, including requirements that everyone have insurance; and that employers provide it and help finance it to achieve universal guaranteed coverage. Private and public insurance is merged and offered through a federal Health Choices Menu, for example.

Republicans support freemarket and consumer-based solutions; expanding portability and choices, reducing dependence on employer-based systems, and using tax deductions, credits, and expanded health savings accounts for families. Options to obtain insurance through any organization or association, and have multiyear coverage, are also on the table. Without exception, Republicans agree that we must ensure that health care is more accessible, but the worst possible scenario is a universal healthcare system that thrusts the costs on taxpayers and future generations.

Having government address issues is one thing; having government run health care solutions is quite another. It might sound good, but where are its incentives for doing it well and for your best interests? For me, I'll need more aspirin.

Mrs. Forest is the Secretary of the 9th District GOP, and a Georgia native. She is retired from the FDIC and lives in Ellijay with husband Phil.