US President Bush is promoting new health care proposals encouraging U.S. residents to purchase health insurance through the private insurance market.
US President Bush claimed this is the best way to expand health coverage and reduce health care costs. President Bush talked about his plans during his recent visit to a Missouri hospital to promote the health care proposals.
US President Bush said, “We believe the private sector is the best delivery of health care.” He added, “We know there’s a role for the federal government, but it’s not to dictate, it’s not to be the decision-maker”.
The proposal would for the first time levy a tax on the value of employer-sponsored health insurance in some cases. Currently, most employees are not taxed on the value of their employer-sponsored health insurance. Under the proposal, individuals and families with employer-sponsored health insurance plans worth more than the proposed allowable deductions would pay taxes on the difference. The deduction would be available to all individuals and families who purchase health insurance, regardless of the value of their policies or whether they itemize deductions on their tax returns. For U.S. residents who receive employer-based health insurance, the deduction would be offset by the cost of their coverage.
The proposal would pose no net cost to the government over 10 years, according to the administration. Some crtics said that President Bush health care proposals are risky. President Bush brushed aside criticism of his new health care plan as “reflexive” partisanship and urged the Democratic-led Congress to work with him on the issue.