Obama Plan for Government Insurance Draws Criticism
Jan. 8 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama’s plan to have new government health insurance compete with private coverage drew Republican fire at a nomination hearing for Thomas A. Daschle to run the Health and Human Services Department.
“Any new insurance coverage must be delivered through private insurance plans,” said Senator Michael B. Enzi , Republican of Wyoming and his party’s ranking member on the Health committee, in prepared comments for the hearing, the panel’s first session of the year.
Enzi was taking on a proposal by Obama to help reduce the number of uninsured by making available a version of Medicare, the government insurance for the elderly. Daschle preached the need for consensus in his remarks, telling lawmakers he was “determined to work with each of you” to change a system that costs $2.6 trillion a year and leaves 45 million people without health insurance.
“We need input and involvement and engagement,” Daschle told Enzi in response to a question about moving health-care changes through Congress. Daschle didn’t offer specifics of the Obama plan, or argue for its passage.
dBTechno “Any new insurance coverage must be delivered through private insurance plans,” said Senator Michael B. Enzi, Republican of Wyoming and his party’s ranking Video: Ted Kennedy Speaks To CBS News Health secretary pick seeks health care overhaul