Erskine Bowles on Health Care

Provide health insurance for the unemployed

We must cut red tape and provide insurance for employees who lose their jobs, and make more dislocated employees eligible for health insurance assistance. As senator I would propose an extension to a third of the total unemployed that would cost a little over $1 billion annually. This would be a beginning, with a goal of getting all those on unemployment benefits covered within five years. Source: Bowles Jobs Plan Jul 5, 2004

Tax credits for businesses that provide health care

I strongly support the concept of creating a new health care tax credit that does not undermine current employer coverage. Bipartisan efforts have begun to meet this two-fold policy goal: expanding coverage by assisting small businesses which have the most difficulty providing it and maintaining coverage for those who now have it. I have allocated $7 billion (a year) in my plan to begin to fund tax credits targeted to small businesses and their employees. Source: Bowles Jobs Plan Jul 5, 2004

Allow small businesses to pool purchasing power

I would support & fight for measures to allow small businesses access to reliable and affordable health insurance premiums. A new plan currently being drafted by Sen. Lincoln would allow multiple employers to pool resources to increase purchasing power. It would avoid the problem of adverse selection by conforming to current state insurance solvency and consumer protection standards. As a result, it would provide a benefit to small businesses and their employees. Source: Bowles Jobs Plan Jul 5, 2004

Give all reservists access to TRICARE

Bowles will help make sure that reservists have permanent access to TRICARE, so that they have a consistent, affordable source of health insurance. Activated guardsmen will arrive to active duty healthier and better prepared to fight. They also will not have to worry about interruptions in coverage when transitioning into or out of the private sector. Bowles will fight to make sure the legislation that would permanently extend access to TRICARE to all reservists passes Congress and is signed into law. Source: Bowles Homeland Security Plan Jul 5, 2004

Must invest in health care for rural residents

The groundbreaking use of technology here at the medical school is changing the way health care is provided in rural North Carolina. I came to Greenville to get an update on how the medical school works with health care facilities in communities across Eastern North Carolina to provide specialty care to local families - in their home towns. Source: Campaign web site erskinebowles2002.com, "Recent" Nov 14, 2001

Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care. Click here for policy papers on Health Care. Click here for SenateMatch answers by Erskine Bowles. Agree? Disagree? Voice your opinions on Health Care in The Forum.
*Other candidates on Health Care:*		*Erskine Bowles on other issues:*
*NC Gubernatorial:* Mike Easley *NC Senatorial:* Elizabeth Dole Jesse Helms John Edwards Lauch Faircloth Richard Burr *Presidential:* George W. Bush (Republican for President) V.P.Dick Cheney (Republican for V.P.) Sen.John Kerry (Democratic nominee for Pres.) Sen.John Edwards (Democratic nominee for V.P.) Ralph Nader (Reform nominee for Pres.) Peter Camejo (Reform nominee for V.P.) David Cobb (Green nominee for Pres.) Michael Badnarik (Libertarian nominee for Pres.) Michael Peroutka (Constitution nominee for Pres.)	*2004 Senate Races:* (AK)Knowles v.Murkowski v.Sykes (AR)Holt v.Lincoln (AZ)McCain v.Starky (CA)Boxer v.Jones v.Gray (CO)Coors v.Salazar v.Randall v.Acosta (CT)Dodd v.Orchulli (FL)Castor v.Martinez (GA)Isakson v.Majette v.Buckley (IA)Grassley v.Small v.Northrop (IL)Obama v.Keyes (IN)Bayh v.Scott (KY)Bunning v.Mongiardo (LA)John v.Vitter (MD)Mikulski v.Pipkin (MO)Bond v.Farmer (NC)Bowles v.Burr (ND)Dorgan v.Liffrig (NH)Granny D v.Gregg (NV)Reid v.Ziser (NY)Schumer v.Mills v.McReynolds (OH)Fingerhut v.Voinovich (OK)Carson v.Coburn (OR)Wyden v.King (PA)Hoeffel v.Specter (SC)DeMint v.Tenenbaum (SD)Daschle v.Thune (UT)Bennett v.Van Dam (VT)Leahy v.McMullen (WA)Murray v.Nethercutt (WI)Feingold v.Michels	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare Other Senators House of Representatives SenateMatch (matching quiz) HouseMatch Senate Votes (analysis) House Votes