Health Care Reform

To whom it may concern,

At this point we can all agree that we need health care reform, but there are a million different ways and reasons to do so. Under the guise of reform, health care can and probably will become something that nobody will be happy with. As is the case for all large policy decisions, when everyone is equally upset, you may have the right solution. It is clearly a balancing act, and the rhetoric leading up to this battle is more consistent and determined than ever before. For the first time in American history, universal health care is quickly becoming a reality. Should we augment existing programs such as lowering the age to enter Medicare? A recent study shows that this would significantly improve the disparities between ethnicities and health. Shall the government prepare a public health care system? Should we require all health insurers to incorporate the uninsured to their programs with the government's backing? There is a good chance that it will be a combination of all of these proposals. Regardless of what you want out of health care reform, we can all rely on the fact that it is as important to our economy as any other policy initiative. Whatever it may be, a universal health care program should be created so that the insurance follows the person until they so choose to change it. This would add a sense of security and stability for families, as well as create great flexibility for the employers and the economy. If someone is temporarily unemployed, the government should subsidize these payments up to a point, but the insurance must stay with the individual and their family. With Congress soon to return from recess, how will this administration approach health care reform, and how has your original plan evolved since the 2008 campaign?

GUNNAR HAND, AICP