BEST OF A BAD LOT

Edwards Advances Health Insurance Plan in N.H.: Focus Is on Children, Low-Income Adults (Jim VandeHei, July 29, 2003, Washington Post)

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards today proposed mandating government-subsidized health care coverage for all Americans under 21 and providing assistance to millions of lower-income adults.

The North Carolina senator, seeking to boost a campaign trailing badly in the polls, called for a new tax credit that parents could use to help buy health insurance for their children, either through private plans or the government's existing program for children. Every child would be required by the government to have insurance, which would be heavily subsidized for the poorest Americans. A family of four making around $60,000 would pay $30 per month to cover both children, Edwards said.

"If we are going fix this broken health care system, the responsible place to start is with the greatest injustice -- uninsured kids," Edwards said after touring a children's health facility here. More than 9 million Americans under the age of 18 do not have health coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

This at least approaches being sensible. How about just requiring that every child have $2000 per year going into an MSA--with contributions coming from parents' employers and/or parents' pre-tax income and/or a federal subsidy for those who work but are below the poverty level and/or anyone else (grandparents, etc.) who cares to contribute, with pre-payments allowed? Posted by Orrin Judd at July 30, 2003 8:45 PM