Bush Foreshadows Initiative to Help Uninsured
On Saturday, President Bush previewed a plan to provide a financial incentive to Americans to purchase health insurance during his weekly radio address. Bush stated, "Today, the tax code unfairly penalizes people who do not get health insurance through their job. It unwisely encourages workers to choose overly expensive, gold-plated plans. The result is that insurance premiums rise and many Americans cannot afford the coverage they need."
As reported by the Washington Post, Bush's plan would "add a new tax on employer-provided health-care plans worth more than $15,000 to subsidize those who buy modestly priced plans out of their pockets." Bush also hopes to provide Medicaid waivers that allow states to shift Medicaid funds away from nursing homes and hospitals instead grant funds to individuals so that they can purchase health insurance. Bush is expected to provide further details of his plan in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday evening.
Commenting on the proposal Post writer Michael A. Fletcher states that Bush's most recent proposal is his "most ambitious attempt to address the health-care crisis."
