Both favor universal health care

Health care is in a crisis that needs federal help to fix, say the Democrats seeking the nomination to face incumbent Mark Kirk in the 10th Congressional District.

They use different terms, such as national or universal, but business consultant Dan Seals of Wilmette and Jay Footlik, a security consultant and Middle East expert, concur that all people should have access to affordable health care.

They differ in how that might happen, however. Footlik thinks citizens should have access to the same system members of Congress do, while Seals advocates a Medicare-style arrangement that ultimately would cut costs.

All Americans should have two choices, Footlik said: Keep existing coverage or have access to the same insurance options that members of Congress receive.

The Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan is a model that offers more care and choice at a lower cost, he said. In that system, different health plans offer different benefit options at different prices and compete for the right to cover federal workers.

Participating health plans generally reimburse for the same types of expenses as Medicare, according to Footlik.

"I don't see a good reason why citizens shouldn't be able to buy into that system as well," he said. "I think we can increase the pool of coverage for people."

Seals maintains that many government employees can't afford the coverage, however.

"It's too expensive," he said, "which means you're not really solving the problem of the health-care system."

He said Congress should develop a national program of health insurance that provides a basic level of health care that is "portable and affordable."

"People shouldn't be stuck in jobs just because they need the (health insurance) benefit," he said. How that would be done in a system in which employers pay a portion of the benefit would have to be worked out, he added.

He said he like to see employers out of the health-care system, or else have to pay in a new arrangement that would allow those leaving for another job to take their health care with if they choose.

Those who are satisfied with their coverage should be able to keep it. For the rest, Seals advocates a Medicare-style alternative.

"This will reduce costs by encouraging the 47 million to stop using the emergency room as their primary care provider, by preventing the need for those with insurance to pay for those without it and allow the government to negotiate for reduced prices," he said.

Those without insurance "need to be able to pay something into the system," he added.

Seals said changes to the system should be bold rather than incremental. The increasing cost of health care for employers and employees hurts the economy because it shows up in increased prices for products, he contended.

Footlik said Medicare is struggling with a "huge gap" between what it takes in and what it pays out. Piling on new obligations could result in even lower reimbursements to doctors and hospitals. He also said the one-size-fits-all benefits program limits the ability to deal with a new group of enrollees.

Generally, Footlik said he prefers an emphasis on preventive care and cutting waste to reduce the demand on the system and lower premiums.

How coverage is provided also needs to be studied.

Veterans, for example, should be able to go to any hospital, rather than only federal facilities, he contended.