HEALTH REFORM: NPR Dials in on Candidates' Plans for Health Reform

NPR continued its focus on the presidential health plans with a pair of well-reported pieces by Julie Rovner on Morning Edition this week.

Yesterday, Rovner examined McCain's focus on high risk pools which he claims could be used to provide coverage for the medically uninsurable—individuals who because of a pre-existing health condition would be denied coverage on the individual market. Georgetown's Karen Pollitz noted that while the some of the theory behind high risk pools may be sound, their implementation has been problematic and expensive. More than thirty states have high risk pools, but they provide coverage to only about 300,000 people—a fraction of the 46 million American's without health insurance.

Today, Rovner examined Obama's plan asking how much would his plan really cost. AEI's Joe Antos expressed skepticism that Obama's plan could deliver enough savings soon enough, especially given the cost of proposal. Health policy analyst Jeff Goldsmith argued both candidates were being pragmatically vague at this point in the campaign because so many parties have a stake in our $2.2 trillion health care system.

Both pieces are short and well worth a listen. Rovner poses the kind of questions we hope to see more of in the coming debate. As Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep noted: "The presidential candidates have not addressed it as much as some other issues, but for voters, health care remains key."