Dems' election signals opening in health care

The Democrats have retaken control of both houses of Congress after more then 12 years, and they now have the unique opportunity to develop a solution to the health care crisis. And they may get some help from unlikely sources. Just two weeks ago, a coalition of health care insurance payers offered a proposal called "America's Heath Insurance Plans." That plan would blend certain aspects of a universal health care plan favored by Democrats, and which some Republicans have also favored, with some other industry offerings designed to begin the process of providing health care coverage to the nearly 50 million people in our nation who don't have it. Of that 50 million, more than 80 percent go to work. The proposal telegraphs a willingness to create a plan that would provide coverage for all uninsured children within the first three years and for all uninsured adults within 10. It is short on specifics and there's much work to do, as it only addresses one aspect of the health care crisis, albeit, a critical aspect. That aspect is the lack of health insurance coverage for those nearly 50 million Americans. The other part of the crisis is the skyrocketing cost of health care coverage in general, and the rising contributions that working men and women are required to make to keep the coverage they have. Chip Gerrity, President of NJ IBEW, Hightstown - Daily Journal, December 15, 2006