The health care plan Obama should have proposed

“One of the most cherished goals of our democracy is to assure every American an equal opportunity to lead a full and productive life…Now it is time that we move forward again in still another critical area: health care. Without adequate health care, no one can make full use of his or her talents and opportunities. It is thus just as important that economic, racial and social barriers not stand in the way of good health care as it is to eliminate those barriers to a good education and a good job…

“I proposed a major health insurance program to the Congress, seeking to guarantee adequate financing of health care on a nationwide basis. That proposal generated widespread discussion and useful debate. But no legislation reached my desk.

“Today the need is even more pressing because of the higher costs of medical care. Efforts to control medical costs under the New Economic Policy have been met with encouraging success, sharply reducing the rate of inflation for health care. Nevertheless, the overall cost of health care has still risen by more than 20 percent in the last two and one-half years, so that more and more Americans face staggering bills when they receive medical help today:

“For the average family, it is clear that without adequate insurance, even normal care can be a financial burden while a catastrophic illness can mean catastrophic debt. Beyond the question of the prices of health care, our present system of health care insurance suffers from two major flaws.

“First, even though more Americans carry health insurance than ever before, the 25 million Americans who remain uninsured often need it the most and are most unlikely to obtain it. They include many who work in seasonal or transient occupations, high-risk cases, and those who are ineligible for Medicaid despite low incomes. Second, those Americans who do carry health insurance often lack coverage which is balanced, comprehensive and fully protective…

“These gaps in health protection can have tragic consequences. They can cause people to delay seeking medical attention until it is too late. Then a medical crisis ensues, followed by huge medical bills – or worse. Delays in treatment can end in death or lifelong disability.

“Early last year, I directed the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to prepare a new and improved plan for comprehensive health insurance. That plan, as I indicated in my State of the Union message, has been developed and I am presenting it to the Congress today. I urge its enactment as soon as possible.

“The plan is organized around seven principles: First, it offers every American an opportunity to obtain a balanced, comprehensive range of health insurance benefits. Second, it will cost no American more than he can afford to pay. Third, it builds on the strength and diversity of our existing public and private systems of health financing and harmonizes them into an overall system. Fourth, it uses public funds only where needed and requires no new Federal taxes; Fifth, it would maintain freedom of choice by patients and ensure that doctors work for their patient, not for the Federal Government. Sixth, it encourages more effective use of our health care resources. And finally, it is organized so that all parties would have a direct stake in making the system work – consumer, provider, insurer, State governments and the Federal Government.

“There would be no exclusions of coverage based on the nature of the illness. For example, a person with heart disease would qualify for benefits as would a person with kidney disease. In addition, the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan would cover treatment for mental illness, alcoholism and drug addiction, whether that treatment were provided in hospitals and physicians’ offices or in community based settings.

“Certain nursing home services and other convalescent services would also be covered. For example, home health services would be covered so that long and costly stays in nursing homes could be averted where possible.

“The health needs of children would come in for special attention, since many conditions, if detected in childhood, can be prevented from causing lifelong disability and learning handicaps. Included in these services for children would be: preventive care up to age six; eye examinations; hearing examinations; and regular dental care up to age 13.

“Under the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan, a doctor’s decisions could be based on the health care needs of his patients, not on health insurance coverage. This difference is essential for quality care. Every American participating in the program would be insured for catastrophic illnesses that can eat away savings and plunge individuals and families into hopeless debt for years. No family would ever have annual out-of-pocket expenses for covered health services in excess of $1,500, and low-income families would face substantially smaller expenses…

“The entire program would become effective in 1976, assuming that the plan is promptly enacted by the Congress.”

President Richard Nixon’s Special Message to Congress Proposing a Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan, February 6, 1974

Mark Berg is a community activist in Adams County and a proud Liberal. His email address is MABerg175@Comcast.net.