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Jim Gilmore on Health CareSenate challenger 2008; previously Republican Governor (VA) |
Gilmore: Every American deserves access to affordable, high-quality and reliable health care. In order to achieve this goal, I support a broad range of health care reform including tax reform to help people buy health insurance and maintain health savings accounts; making it easier for small businesses to provide health care for their employees by allowing them to form association health plans. I believe we also need medical liability reforms to reduce frivolous lawsuits and help bring down health care costs.
Warner: We need to fix our nation's health care system. It's both a moral issue and a competitiveness issue-- we simply cannot allow 47 million Americans to go without access to health care. I do not support a government run, single payer system.
Gilmore: I support lowering Medicare premiums. Seniors face a growing threat from higher Medicare premiums that diminish their Social Security and retirement savings. We have a moral responsibility to older Americans and to future generations to address this difficult problem and if elected to the US Senate, I will work tirelessly to help keep Medicare and Social Security stable and solvent for current and future generations.
Thousands of needy adults and children all across Virginia depend on Medicaid for their medical care. But with the rising cost of services and the growing use of those services, the financial burden on the state has increased dramatically. I propose we fully fund Medicaid this year. In addition, I propose $25 million to compensate the Medical College of Virginia for the care they provide patients who don’t have insurance or whose treatment isn’t covered by Medicaid. We must leave no Virginian behind, especially the poor who can’t afford medical care.
The Governors support efforts designed to enable small employers to join together to participate more effectively in the health insurance market. In fact, Governors have taken the lead in facilitating the development of such partnerships and alliances. However, these partnerships must be carefully structured and regulated by state agencies in order to protect consumers and small businesses from fraud and abuse and underinsurance. NGA opposes attempts to expand federal authority under ERISA. The Governors have identified the prevention of such federal legislation in the 107th Congress as a top legislative priority.
States have the primary responsibility for health insurance regulation. Across the nation, Governors are working to protect consumers and patients and to properly regulate the complicated health insurance industry.