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Health reform in the US
 President Obama has explained his health reform plan during a meeting in Virginia on 1st July.
Obama explained that the present health system in the US has become untenable. In the past nine years, premiums have risen three times faster than wages, he said. Even though he recognised that the costs of reform will be high, the costs of inaction would be even greater. If nothing is done now, ten years from now one out of every five dollars earned will be spent on health care. Even those who
have insurance are already paying extra in premiums for uncompensated care.
Obama proposed a mixed solution that will allow people who already benefit from employer-paid private health insurance to continue to do so. He will also offer a public option, to provide an affordable basic benefit package allowing health care for all.
The cost of the solution will be high, but Obama pointed to "smarter spending" and better prevention of health problems in order to save money and finance the reform. Offering regular check-ups will avoid paying more for emergency treatment that the taxpayer has to pay for anyway. To those who have already criticised the proposed reform, Obama asks "What is your alternative?". He urges unions and
the public to get informed so that the scare tactics of the opposants don't work.
Watch the video of the meeting here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/31695297#31687617
examiner.com has published a series of articles called the "Health care reform series" available here:
http://www.examiner.com/x-6665-Liberal-Examiner
SEIU has started a special campaign against the scare tactics by opposants of the reform. See http://haarm.org
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