TO SEE WHAT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THINK ABOUT OBAMA, SEE STORY ON PG. 3
THE BG NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community www.bgviews.com
Volume 104, Issue 62
DIAGNOSING THE STATUS OF
HEALTHCARE How does the U.S. stack up against the world?
Story by Becky Tener | Designed by Andy Hernandez After the U.S. House of Representatives passed the new health care reform bill on Nov. 7, the condition of the United States’ health care system seems to be moving toward reform. Though health care may be the last issue on students’ minds with the end of the semester nearing, The BG News
researched the United States health care system, reform and how it ranks with the rest of the world.
lege, searching for their first job — a place many University students will be within the next few years.
See HEALTH | Page 2
The most uninsured group in America is 18- to 28-year-old adults, according to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Most are students right out of col-
How much we spend:
19.5% OTHER
$2.2 trillion on average per year
33.9% FEDERAL MEDICARE OR MEDICAID
34.6% PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS
34.6 percent: $761,200,000 private health insurance providers
The sides of health care:
Liberal
Single-payer is also called Medicare for all. Single-payer means health care would be funded and administered by a non-profit government agency and privatized insurance companies would no longer exist.
posal. Then, since the two bills will probably be different, a committee will merge the bills and the new bill will be voted on again by the House, the Senate and then be ready for President Barack Obama to sign.
Colombia Colombia was the first middleincome nation to reform to its health care system. The government created laws to establish a social insurance that provides universal coverage and equal financial access for basic health care needs.
France
19.5 percent: $429,000,000 other, such as non-profits
On Nov. 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of health care reform, narrowly, at a count of 220-215 votes. But before any form of health care reform can take place, the U.S. Senate will create their own pro-
The United States has a private health care system fueled by privately-owned health insurance companies. The majority of Americans pay for insurance themselves, sometimes with assistance from their employer.
12.0% OUT OF POCKET
12.0 percent: $264,000,000 out of pocket 33.9 percent: $745,800,000 federal Medicare and Medicaid
The United States
“We’re a long way away,” Hale said. Hale said even when the bill is given to Obama, he might not sign it. The president would sign the bill only if it reduces cost and doesn’t add to the national deficit.
Middle
This is a blend of the current privatized system and single-payer. If a person likes their health care insurance, they can keep it. But for those who are not content with their current insurance, they can be insured through a public option offered by the government. Not only does the vision for this plan cover those who are currently uninsured, but the plan could help lower the cost of private insurers and force people to compete with the government-funded health care option. The main appeal of this idea is to give people a choice.
France has the best health care system in the world, according to the World Health Organization. France’s insurance is based on employment with plans for both the self-employed and farmers. Seventy-five percent of health care is covered by the public health insurance system.
Canada Canada has public health care insurance. The system is based on income tax, where 70 percent of the cost is publicly funded from the government and 30 percent is privately funded from citizens.
Conservative
This concept involves not reforming insurance coverage and price. Rather, it fixes the system by changing spending to eliminate costs. One proposal is to reduce malpractice lawsuits, which adds to the cost of health care as a whole.
The United Kingdom The United Kingdom has a form of socialized health care funded by a health care tax that covers the basic needs of the people, preventative care and hospitalization. They also have the option of having privatized health care, but most do not use this option.
*Information was compiled from Healthreform.gov, The Affordable Health Care for America Act, The World Health Organization, The Institute of Ohio Health Policy, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Healthaffairs.org.
CAMPUS Upgrading the Union
FORUM Health care support stalls
The Union ball room floor is getting a face lift, implementing a plan that has been in effect for three years to replace the 50-year-old pine floors | Page 3
Forum editor Kyle Schmidlin discusses the waning support for health care reform and possible reasons for its decreasing popularity, as the bill works its way from the House to the Senate | Page 4
SPORTS
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
Award field narrows
What do you think of President Obama?
Freddie Barnes and the rest of the Biletknikoff Award nominees anxiously await the narrowing of the field to three finalists | Page 7
JANEE RUFFIN Senior, Communications
“He’s down-to-earth and honest, and you don’t see much of that in politics.” | Page 4
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