In his radio address to the nation on Saturday, President Bush offered a preview of the healthcare initiatives he will propose during his State of the Union Address on Jan. 23. Chief among them is a change in the federal tax code, which Bush believes will provide an incentive for Americans to acquire health insurance. The current tax code, said Bush, “encourages workers to choose overly expensive, gold-plated plans” that become increasingly unaffordable as premiums rise. Applauding the states that have already launched healthcare reform proposals, Bush said he will “announce a new effort--led by Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt--to help governors reduce the number of people in their states without private health insurance.”
Affordable basic insurance does not require raising taxes or creating a new entitlement program, according to Bush. Rather, the solution to insuring more Americans will result from health savings accounts, association health plans that provide discounted insurance for small businesses, medical liability reform, and price and quality transparency. Bush also said that Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program must be strengthened for future generations. Read the transcript of the address.
