Health-care reform was one of the first and most divisive major-policy initiatives of the Clinton administration. Health care first became a public policy issue for Americans after World War II, when President Harry S Truman advocated national health insurance. The American Medical Association (AMA), however, vigorously opposed it, and it was not until 1965 that Medicare and Medicaid were finally established, covering retired persons and those on welfare, respectively. The remainder of the population was still responsible for paying for its own health care either through employers or out-of-pocket. The working poor were most at risk under these conditions because they did not qualify for Medicaid and generally did not work for employers that offered medical insurance. –enotes summary

The Corner Stone of Bill Clinton Campaign in the 1990’s was a promises for Health Care Reform. Voters loved the idea, but once he was elected it didn’t pan out.

In 1993, Bill Clinton quickly set up the Task Force on National Health Care Reform, headed by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton

The aggressive move of the Task Force led to a full force rejection from federal and private organizations. The first mistake was that they attempted to have secret proceedings which is a violation of Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) which requires openness in government. This led to a string of litigations. Conservatives and Libertarians organized against the bill and were able to influence enough people to stop the Clinton universal health care bill in Congress.

Meanwhile, the American working class who are not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid must fend for themselves in dealing with health insurance while it rises at twice the rate of inflation. America continues to spend more on health care than any other country in the world while still pay much more for much less strengthening the increasing gap between rich and poor.

Current Hilary Clinton’s 2008 Health Plan:

Not to many people in have as much knowledge or at stake as Hillary Clinton when it comes to a working Universal Health care system. To see a working example of Hilary Clinton’s Health Care Plan look no further than Massachusetts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_health_reform_law

Massachusetts provides very inexpensive health care for those that make under the federal poverty line, and subsided health care for those that make up to three times more. Massachusetts determined that this was possible without raising taxes. This was possible because hospitals are not allowed to turn people away in Massachusetts, this creates a massive loss of revenue (over half a billion dollars) that the hospital can write off on taxes each year. The state governement is away of this so they set aside that amount just to pay hospitals (known as Uncompensated Care). So they use the money normally set aside for Uncompensated Care because the losses to pay for there state health care system.

The drawback is that residents who do not obtain health insurance coverage are subject to penalties of up to $219 (as of 2007). As of 2008, Mass. Is facing raising costs of health care. So they are looking to increase taxes on cigarettes and get more money from the federal government.

WHATs The MATTER WITH THE US HEALTH CARE SYSTEM?
The United States is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not provide Universal Health care. The US has the same publicly funded health care programs for years: For military families, military retirees, Medicaid, and Medicare. As a result:

* Fact One: The United States ranks 23rd in infant mortality, down from 12th in 1960 and 21st in 1990
* Fact Two: The United States ranks 20th in life expectancy for women down from 1st in 1945 and 13th in 1960
* Fact Three: The United States ranks 21st in life expectancy for men down from 1st in 1945 and 17th in 1960.
* Fact Four: The United States ranks between 50th and 100th in immunizations depending on the immunization. Overall US is 67th, right behind Botswana
* Fact Five: Outcome studies on a variety of diseases, such as coronary artery disease, and renal failure show the United States to rank below Canada and a wide variety of industrialized nations.

The United States – which spends more on Health Care than most Industrialized countries and still placed 17th in 175 Country survey. – According to World Markets Research Center

Ironically, the US the most technologically and pharmaceutically advanced country in the world, some 40 million of its population are without health insurance, have problems accessing healthcare and are leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles

Works Cited:
Healthiest Countries -

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4025

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/03/25/health/main504582.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_health_care_plan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_health_reform_law