So, Monday was “the big reveal” for Senator Hillary Clinton’s $110 billion American Health Choices Plan.  “It’s time to provide quality affordable health care for every American,” she announced.  Can't argue with that.

 

Highlights of the plan include mandatory health coverage for all Americans.  Tax credits would ensure that nobody pays more than a set percentage of their income toward health insurance.  And if you like your current coverage, you can keep it.  So far, so good.

 

Then, the plan offers to create new choices of public and private health care.  Public plans would be similar to Medicare.  Private plans would imitate those currently offered to federal workers and members of Congress.   Well now, if it’s good enough for Congress…

 

And finally, Senator Clinton proposes requiring large employers to either provide a health plan for their workers or contribute toward the cost of employees’ coverage.  Small companies (25 people or fewer) would be offered tax-credit incentives to provide health insurance for workers, but they would not be required to do so.  (Click here for a full description of Senator Clinton's proposal.)

 

So what do people think of this new plan?  And for that matter, is it really new?  Not according to her Democratic rivals:  “It’s similar to the one I put forth last spring,” Senator Obama commented on Hilary’s plan. (Although his plan doesn’t mandate coverage.)

 

And from Senator Edwards: “…if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then I’m flattered.” (His plan does also require that everyone have health insurance coverage.)

 

These accusations of 'copycatting' are a good sign -- people are trying to take credit for these ideas, so they must have merit, right?  But wait!  What have the Republican candidates' reactions been?  In a word, predictable.  Mitt Romney called the plan “European-styled socialized medicine” even before it was officially announced.  And Rudy Giuliani called it “in short, a prescription for an increase in wait times, a decrease in patient care and tax hikes to pay for it all.”

 

Enough of what the politicians think!  Let’s hear from the rest of America.  Doctors: have you read Hilary’s plan?  And Edwards’?  And Obama’s?  Tell us what you think.  Health insurance industry professionals: how would these plans affect you?  What are the merits and problems with each proposal?  And most importantly:  American people -- from all income brackets  --  what do you make of all this?  These proposals have the potential to affect everyone in some way, even you.  You have a voice... and a vote.  Read up on the health care issue, and make yourself heard TODAY!