“Insurance companies will ultimately be competing to keep Americans healthy,” the senator said.
Sen. Wyden contends that the savings obtained by reducing administrative overhead, unnecessary procedures and costly acute care will more than adequately cover the costs of insuring all uninsured Americans. And at bottom, the Wyden plan is all about universal coverage. He said that he strongly believes universal coverage would free American businesses from the tremendous fiscal ball and chain that health care has become, while protecting individuals from the loss or change of benefits, as often happens with employer-sponsored coverage.
“Under my plan, if you lose your job, you do not lose your coverage. Your subsidy would go up, so you'd be able to continue to pay for coverage, and you will still have to pay the portion for which you are responsible. But through the magic of electronic transfers, you will be guaranteed continuous coverage,” he said.
By introducing the Healthy Americans Act, Sen. Wyden has beaten the Democratic presidential hopefuls to the battlefield. Does it have a chance of passing, given a split government and a major election in the offing?
Many observers think not, but Sen. Wyden believes the split Congress and election campaign pressures are an asset. “We want to work together [with Republicans in accordance with] the principles of the Healthy Americans Act. Ten Senators have joined me—five Democrats and five Republicans—in a letter to the President. We're trying to leverage the conditions of a divided government. Remember, welfare legislation got passed in a divided government. Health care is a top issue, and both parties have to go to the voters in 2008.”