DALLAS, Oct. 1 IPI-McCain-on-health
DALLAS, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the 45 million Americans who are uninsured, a proposal from Republican presidential candidate John McCain would allow individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines. IPI resident scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews discusses this option in an opinion piece, entitled "McCain Is Right on Interstate Health Insurance," featured today in the Wall Street Journal.
But Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama seems to think the proposal would create a dangerous, unregulated health insurance market, says Matthews.
Matthews writes: "McCain backs legislation sponsored by Arizona Rep. John Shadegg. Known as the Health Care Choice Act, it would allow individuals living in one state to purchase health insurance being sold to people living in other states. The policy would still have to meet the regulations of the state in which it is being sold, and would be subject to additional federal oversight."
"That's hardly the Wild West of health insurance," writes Matthews.
According to Matthews, Obama opposes the plan for two reasons -- he doesn't believe in the effectiveness of markets when it comes to health insurance, and he wants people to have benefit-rich policies the uninsured can't afford.
"He believes it is necessary for the government to look over everybody's shoulder to make sure patients are getting the care and coverage the government thinks is appropriate at a price the government considers affordable," writes Matthews.
"Obama will 'solve' the affordability issue by imposing price controls and regulations on insurers and drug companies, and force taxpayers to subsidize the rest of the cost," he writes.
Matthews concedes that the interstate option may not solve every problem faced by the 45 million uninsured Americans.
"But the choice isn't between a regulated or unregulated health-insurance market," he concludes. "The choice is between an overregulated market favored by Mr. Obama and a regulated market favored by Mr. McCain that provides more options to help individuals afford health coverage."
The Institute for Policy Innovation is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan public policy organization based in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Merrill Matthews is available for interview by contacting Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139, or erin@ipi.org.
SOURCE Institute for Policy Innovation
