Is Health Insurance and Care Still the Top Election Issue?
photo credit: pingnews.com
Few items on any political agenda today affect as many people as the subject of healthcare costs. Publicly-funded health insurance systems are being debated back and forth between all parties with both sides trying to retain their views about the best course of action for the nation. Many people aren’t content to simply sit back and wait for the healthcare system in this country to fix itself; they have taken it upon themselves to purchase health insurance through work or on the private market.
With health care costs rising at three times the rate of the average wages in this country (and over 105% since 1999), many people are already realizing that their future health care costs will be out of reach if matters are left unchecked. While health insurance plans won’t cover every eventuality, they will help to offset the rapidly-rising costs of health care services in this country.
How Important is Health Care in this Year’s Critical Election?
Most people are realizing that their health and the health of their families is what are really important in this day and age. Although, health care is not the top issue that polled voters are citing, they’re largely aware that health costs are closely tied in with their disposable income and budget. Handling the rising costs of medical and health services and treatments – now and in the future – is quickly becoming a priority with many people. They realize that they can’t sit and wait for state or federal agencies to step up and take care of out-of-control health care costs.
While some states are busily enacting their own universal state-run health care systems, the balance of the nation is still burdened by the extreme weight of health insurance costs for the population. With only fifteen percent of the population uninsured, most citizens have some form of government-backed or private health insurance in place. High monthly costs and deductibles of $10,000 or more (in 2008, the average premium for a family topped $12,000) make it hard for average citizens to adequately manage health care costs for their families. The situation is one that will not go away and will only get worse unless quick and decisive action is taken to ensure that costs are kept in check with the means of average citizens.
