To mandate health insurance or not to mandate; that is the question. And with the Democratic debate this Thursday at the University of Texas at Austin, many Texans will get to see how both Obama and Clinton stack up to each other on the issue.
It all boils down to whether Texas voters prefer a mandatory health insurance, similar to Texas' mandatory auto insurance laws, or a mandatory coverage for children only. Obviously Obama will encourage adults to seek coverage, but coming from a middle class income, I can understand how a required coverage would be a turn-off. Especially since Texas has a high number of uninsured residents.
At the moment, I'm considered lucky to have an employer offered health plan that is, quite frankly, the cheapest I've ever seen, but many other Americans who are above the poverty line but not wealthy, are not as fortunate. Especially with the difficulty in obtaining affordable coverage with a pre-existing health condition. So to make the majority of middle class America - who don't qualify for Medicaid - have some kind of coverage is basically forcing them to either break the law and stay uncovered or increase their cost of living by up to 34%.
Our other option? McCain would be so kind as to advance Bush's tax cuts and let us keep more of our hard-earned money to pay for the already costly insurance. Hmmm... makes it a little awkward for middle class Republicans it seems.
Texans would be well to do if they supported to the health plan least likely to fail. Children should have to be covered, but let grown adults decide if they can afford coverage or not. But I guess we'll see how Texans really feel about it after the debate is over and the primary votes are tallied. See ya in March!
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/022008dnbusHealthMandate.3bac732.html
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