| Republicans, conservative Republicans in | | | | · Small businesses that cannot now offer |
| particular, have been notoriously resistant | | | | competitive health care packages could |
| to the idea of universal health care coverage | | | | compete with larger corporations for highly |
| at least since the days of Harry Truman. | | | | skilled employees, resulting in a tremendous |
| | | | opportunity for growth among these small |
| But maybe it's time for the Republican Party | | | | companies. |
| to take another look at universal health | | | | |
| care. A system funded and operated at the | | | | · Money freed up from current privately |
| federal level could have a number of effects: | | | | funded health care programs could be used to |
| | | | offer raises to employees and to expand |
| · A federal system set up along the lines | | | | business. |
| of Medicare or the Veterans Administration | | | | |
| system could control health care costs by | | | | · Providing access to health care to |
| limiting payment for services. | | | | self-employed individuals could expand the |
| | | | pool of workers choosing to work on a |
| · A tax-funded system could take the | | | | freelance basis. This would result in cost |
| burden of health care costs off the backs of | | | | savings to companies that decide to contract |
| American businesses by funding it through | | | | with freelancers rather than hire employees |
| deductions similar to the current social | | | | who expect a benefits package. |
| security system. With deductions divided | | | | |
| equally between the worker and the business | | | | · Since all necessary medical costs will |
| or paid solely by the employee, this, | | | | be covered routinely by the federal program |
| combined with cost-control methods, could | | | | for all citizens, malpractice and injury |
| represent a substantial savings over what | | | | lawsuits for medical expenses could drop |
| businesses are paying now. | | | | substantially. |
| | | | |