Healthcare was a hot topic in the recent election, and with Barack Obama’s election, many women’s health advocates hope to see a reversal of some of the policies added or modified during the Bush administration.

Some of the recent election results may point towards a new policy towards women’s health care. But these policy changes are entirely dependent on the cooperation of Congress. Don’t forget, too, that the supreme court is now filled with a few new pro-life judges. What might we see changed?

Reduced funding for abstinence-only programs: A couple of years ago, then-Senator Obama said that he believes an abstinence-only sex education stance is not effective. He was also a co-sponsor of the Prevention First Act, designed to “expand access to preventive health care services that help reduce unintended pregnancy, reduce the number of abortions, and improve access to women’s health care” by ensuring teens receive accurate information about contraception and sexual health.

Removal of the global gag rule: On his very first day in office, Bush reinstituted the “global gag” rule, which served to restrict federal funding for health clinics in foreign countries if they offered abortions or related services.

Improved access to contraception and pregnancy coverage: Obama’s new healthcare initiative might be the final step needed to ensure all health plans cover contraception. More comprehensive pregnancy coverage may also be included. Another improvement may be better access to contraception for military women overseas. Currently, women who become pregnant while serving in overseas military operations are sent home – immediately, with no opportunity for the morning-after pill or surgical abortion. Since Obama’s healthcare plan includes abortion cover, we can hope to see soldiers afforded the same benefits as the civilians they are protecting.

Reversal of the “conscience” rule: Obama is expected to reverse a rule which was scheduled to be enacted over the next few weeks. The rule would provide free reign for healthcare workers to “opt out” of certain practices they object to on moral grounds – such as prescribing birth control or the morning after pill. This rule is opposed by the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Removal of gender disparity in insurance premiums: Obama’s ambitious healthcare plans aren’t likely to be enacted for some time, with the economic climate putting immense pressure on the federal funds available. But if his plans are enacted, they could ensure that gender discrimination is a thing of the past when it comes to buying health insurance. A recent study by the National Women’s Law Center revealed that a woman may be charged up to 48% more for her insurance than a man of the same age.

photo credit: TheTruthAbout…

It didn’t. She was delirious by the time friends finally took her to the emergency room on New Year’s Eve. The doctors diagnosed pneumonia. Three weeks later, she died of adult respiratory distress syndrome. Would universal healthcare have saved her life? You decide.

Universal Healthcare – The Pros

Under universal health care, access to good medical care would become a right rather than a privilege. Hillary Clinton has referred to universal healthcare as “a core Democratic principle.” Certainly, universal healthcare would help the 40 million uninsured, and the countless under-insured people in the United States.

Universal healthcare would allow doctors to focus on what their patients need, not what their patients can afford. For instance, Julie (not her real name) suffers from bipolar disorder. A mood stabilizer controls her condition, but it costs several hundred dollars per month, and Julie has no insurance. So instead of prescribing the medication that he knows will be most effective, Julie’s psychiatrist has to experiment with the off-label generics that Julie can afford. Julie suffers, and society suffers with her when her condition deteriorates and requires expensive hospitalizations that, ultimately, tax payers end up funding. Perhaps this is why, in a recent survey, 59% of doctors supported universal healthcare.

Universal healthcare would allow for good preventive medicine. Chances are that Sylvia would never have become so sick with a chest infection if her asthma had been properly controlled in the first place. If people have access to healthcare, they can work on controlling chronic conditions and preventing health problems, which is far less expensive than dealing with medical problems that have spiraled out of control due to poor preventive care.

Universal Healthcare – The Cons

Universal healthcare would be difficult to coordinate and administer. Of course, universal healthcare isn’t a walk in the park, a magic cure-all. There are challenges as well, one of the chief challenges being who would administer the program. The government has, to put it kindly, not always shown itself to be a model of efficiency. Working out the kinks in universal healthcare would take time and patience—perhaps more patience than most patients possess.

Increased taxes. In a speech explaining why he opposed universal healthcare, John McCain stated, “I’m certainly not interested in raising people’s taxes.” He has touched on a valid point. Both proponents and opponents of universal healthcare agree that taxes would need to be increased to fund healthcare for everyone.

Hard choices. Countries that practice universal healthcare do not give a carte blanche to every treatment for every condition. Some expensive procedures that have very poor success rates may have to be disallowed in the interests of keeping the system afloat. Americans understand this intellectually, but might have a hard time when it is their care or a loved one’s care that is affected.

Universal healthcare is neither angel nor devil. It has its benefits and its drawbacks. But whatever your feelings on the issue, it’s clear that the American healthcare system is ripe for change. It will be interesting to see where this election year takes us and what the President has up his (or her) sleeve.

photo credit: Heather R.