Reply #14: Not true re Edwards plan [View All]

[OzarkDem]

Edwards plan creates regional health care markets that include both public (govt. funded) programs and private health insurance. It allows people to choose between public and private insurance, forcing private insurance to compete w/ lower cost public plans (modeled after Medicare). Regional health care markets will be allowed to negotiate volume discounts on health insurance plans further lowering the cost. All insurance plans are required to be comprehensive.

Existing government funded programs like Medicaid and SCHIP will be expanded to cover more low income families up to 250% of the federal poverty level.

Employers will be required to provide coverage for employees or contribute to paying the cost. Individuals, if not covered by employers or not eligible for Medicaid, Medicare or SCHIP will be required to purchase public or private health insurance through the Markets and will receive tax credits to help purchase it if needed.

Enrollment is required in order to make coverage universal and to keep costs down for all.

Making private insurance companies compete with government funded plans (like Medicare) will drive down costs and could eventually lead to single payer health care.

http://www.johnedwards.com/about/issues/health-care-overview.pdf

Its better than Clinton's plan because it forces competition between public and private insurance.
Its better than Obama's for the same reason, in addition to being sustainable in the long term. Not requiring people to buy health insurance means people won't pay into the system until they are sick or injured - which drives up the cost like today's system.