Clinton and Health Care
Intersecting Political Careers: Reagan, Clinton, GingrichAll came from poverty, troubled families. Clinton experience tuned him into
the challenges of poor and working class people, particularly with regards to the issue of health care.
Politics of Health Care: 1990s
What was the Political Context of Clinton Health Care ReformsClinton’s health care reforms came as little surprise to a Congress that been
debated the issue for years.
Health Care a Major Issue: 1991 PA Senate RaceOne indicators of exactly how important health care had become as an issue was the 1991 race to fill the PA Senate seat left open by the death of John Heinz.
Democratic Harris Wofford defeated the favored a Republican Dick Thornburgh after making health care an issue.
Politics of Health Care: 1990s
Harris Wofford Message: Health Care Should be a Right
National Democrats Seize on Wofford MessageSensing an opportunity, the Democratic leadership in Congress talk about pushing national health care reform.
Results: History of Failed Health Care LegislationThe Democratic proposals failed to materialize, as had previous efforts in the 1980s.
Politics of Health Care: 1990s
Defining Issues in American PoliticsThe authors identify four:
1) War and National Security2) Race Discrimination and Inequality3) Economic Inequality4) Social Safety Net
Politics of Health Care: 1990s
Social Safety Net: The Challenge of Health CareThe need to provide some type of health care system in the US has been a
vexing, and costly issue.
Two Issues:
1) Cost2) Coverage
Politics of Health Care: 1990s
Social Safety Net: The Challenge of Health Care
1990s:
Cost: 1 out of every 7 dollars spent on Health CareCoverage: 37 Million (15% 0f pop) uninsured
(in 1996 alone, 1.2 lost health care coverage)
2000s:
Cost: (2007) 2.2 Trillion, (2016) 4.1 Trillion Coverage: 47 Million (16% of pop) uninsured
Politics of Health Care
History of Health Care Reform in the US
1930s: FDR removed Health Care from 1935 Social Sec. bill due to doctor opposition
1940s: Democrats Push National Health Insurance, AMA led opposition1950s: Rise of employer-based System.1960s: Great Society programs: Medicare1970s: Nixon introduced HMO legislation
Politics of Health Care
Clinton Reforms: 1992 Election
Competing Democratic Plans
1) Bob Kerrey: Type of Single-Payer Plan2) Paul Tsongas: Managed Care, Jackson Hole Plan3) Bill Clinton: Pay or Play
Clinton Reforms: 1992 Election
Details of Democratic Plans
Managed Care1) Employers pay a Portion of Health Care costs2) Government Sets Standards of Care3) State administered “Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperatives” (HIPCs)4) Community-Rate pricing
Unmanaged Care: 1) Individuals buy insurance in the private market.
Clinton Reforms: 1992 Election
Details of Democratic Plans
Pay or Play: 1) Employers pry for health insurance2) If they don’t, they must pay into a federal pool
Clinton Plan
Modified Clinton PlanAfter considerable internal debate, and both Kerrey and Tsongas dropped out
of the race, the Clinton adopted a modified managed care plan.
Details of Clinton Plan1) Employers pay a Portion of Health Care costs2) Government Sets Standards and Flat Rate for Care3) State administered “Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperatives” (HIPCs)4) Federal Health Budget to cap costs
McCain and Obama Ads
McCain Ad: • http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Multimedia/Player.aspx?guid=68f
a68ac-e57e-41ef-861e-879aa5442b7e
Obama Ad:• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnk8minM3Qg