Executive Summary

This great nation is in critical need of a National Health Care Plan for all citizens, regardless of their social or economic status. Health care as we know it today is clearly a system that is defined by the "Haves" and the "Have Nots." Those that have health care insurance are either paying for it on their own and struggling with annual rising costs, or are fortunate enough to have the insurance provided through their employment. Each year though, more and more employers and corporations are finding it difficult to help their employees with health coverage, and employees are finding the extra cost that has been passed on to them a difficult financial burden. An article published in The Columbian, Vancouver Washington newspaper on May 30,2003, reported the findings of two new studies that have been released on health care premiums. The studies found that health care premiums will conceivably rise more than 50% by 2006, and that employers will most likely continue to shift the cost increases to their workers.

Health care and employment should not be combined. The provision of such a major personal issue such as health care should not be governed by, or be the responsibility of the employers. The removal of this benefit burden and responsibility from employers will enable them to focus more on their core businesses, thus becoming more productive and profitable. In turn, this will also provide employees the capitalistic freedom in career choice, selecting where they want to work without the encumbrance, or fear of losing the so called, "Employment Health Benefit."

A large percentage of citizens who toil daily to make ends meet have no health insurance. These people may be the self-employed, or may be some of the unfortunates that though employed, work for firms that cannot afford to offer health care benefits. Most of these people live life with a ticking bomb that is ready to go off and destroy their lives with just one accident, or illness. In the same newspaper article mentioned above, the studies projected that in three years, a minimum of 10 million people will join the ranks of the uninsured.

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