McCain adviser: Everyone in U.S. has some health coverage
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/12/art.mccain0812.ap.jpg caption="A McCain adviser speaks out on the uninsured."]
(CNN) - A health care policy adviser for the McCain campaign told a newspaper reporter that nobody in the United States is technically uninsured, because everyone has access to hospital emergency rooms.
"So I have a solution [to the health care crisis]. And it will cost not one thin dime," John Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, told the Dallas Morning News in an interview published Thursday.
"The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American – even illegal aliens – as uninsured. Instead, the bureau should categorize people according to the likely source of payment should they need care. So, there you have it. Voila! Problem solved."
Hospital emergency rooms cannot technically turn away anyone for financial reasons.
"So instead of producing worthless statistics that people fling around in vacuous editorials and pointless debates, the Census Bureau should produce meaningful numbers, identifying all of the sources of funds people will draw on if they need medical care," said Goodman, who helped write McCain’s health care plan.
That plan would use a combination of tax incentives and market competition to make health care more affordable. It is not a universal health care plan – it does not guarantee insurance coverage for every American.
Read more: Goodman talks to the Dallas Morning News
Take a look: Candidates' health care plans
UPDATE: McCain's campaign says they do not consider Goodman to be an official campaign adviser.
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This is a distortion of EMTALA, the legislation that does not allow hospital emergency rooms to turn patients away. It has nothing to do with chronic illness or preventive healthcare. The notion that the indigent should rely on emergency room care is made without any understanding of either health care or hospital economics.
That plan would use a combination of tax incentives and market competition to make health care more affordable. It is not a universal health care plan – it does not guarantee insurance coverage for every American.
so... HOW HAS THAT STRATEGY WORKED ON OIL... THE TELEPHONE INDUSTRY.... MANUFACTURING.... THE DRUG COMPANIES....
man... same old crap in a new wrapper...
what a joke!!
emergency room access that will leave you paying off your injury for years does not constitute universal health care.
MCAIN IS OUT OF TOUCH
OBAMA / BIDEN 2008
Wow. Someone who gets it. Everyone and anyone can walk into an emergency room and get free health care. It is federal law they can not turn you away based on your ability to pay or not. Another scare tactic courtesy of the democrats revealed.
because everyone has access to hospital emergency rooms.
AHHHHHH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA......
(dep breath...)
HA, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..
oh man... nice healthcare plan.
Oh great. Is that why people are going bankrupt when unforeseen illnesses arise? First a nation of whiners now this? Can these people be m ore out of touch????
I work in Health Care. Go to the emergency room. What a concept? Boy you sure nailed it with your healthcare plan McCain. Where do you think that money comes from sparky!!! But then again, when you are married to money, what do you care?
There is a HUGE difference between uninsured and uncovered. Yes, you cannot be denied coverage. But that doesn't change the reality for hundreds of thousands of Americans who cant AFFORD the coverage they have. And for the McCain camp to sit there and argue this silly point truly shows how out of touch they are.
Is that suppose to be funny? Is he serious? Is that his health care plan?
TYPICAL REPUBLICAN STYLE – JUST RENAME THE THING!!!!!!!!! "That'll fool 'em" – Its not timetables, it "time horizons". Its not uninsured, its "publicly funded" – oopps! can't say that!
he is so low on the elotoral map 189 that even with romney on the mccain will not win in november
You may be able to get "emergency" care in a hospital, but trust me, it's not that great. They are just required to stablize you. If you have a serious illness & can't afford to go to a decent doctor chances are you're screwed. Doctors at free clinics have limited funding and some don't care about the patients they are there to help.
Even with insurance, there are issues with care. I was very ill last year and my insurance would not cover my very expensive medication. My father-in-law died of cancer a few years ago. They had insurance and my mother-in-law is still thousands of dollars in debt.
Our healthcare system needs some major attention. Too often insurance companies are making profits at the expense of the people.
Yeah. It;s called the Emergency Room.
This is another major gaffe. Everyone does not have health coverage. I guess they figure everyone out there has a job.
so now when i (we) get sick, instead of calling our family physician, we can all just go to the ER. a fantactic idea from the McCain camp. doctor offices, hospitals, and the insurance companies aren't going to embrace the idea thou.
Is he kidding?
So somebody with cancer in need of chemotherapy can get it performed in the ER?
Is he absolutely kidding? Does he even know what health care is?
"The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American – even illegal aliens – as uninsured."
Wow, what an advisor McCain has chosen. I read it as: "Hey, let's simply redefine things so we don't have to come up with a plan, and by OUR definition, we can lie and say everyone is insured, regardless if people are dying in emergency rooms. If we are incapable, which we, the McCain family are....we simply change definitions to fit our needs".
McCain, you suck in all area's that concern us today. You are an old man with no ability to lead.
Oh for cripes sakes!
is he talking about cook county, hospital?? LOL!!! you've seen that hospital, is packed!!! LOL!!!!
Wow. Just. Wow.
Open mouth. Insert Foot.
Rinse, and repeat.
How can anybody support this guy?
Even Bush wasn't this stupid!!!
This statement about health care, along with Russia's Prime Minister comment about a planed Georgia attack for McCain's advantage, is going to seal the deal for Obama.
What about in cases that are not an emergence? Preventative care? You want cancer patients to go to the emergency room and crowd them?
what in the world is he talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????
NOW WHO IS OUT OF TOUCH?
So, let me get this straight...since we are PRIVELEGED to wait for 4-8 hours in an emergency room, we have HEALTH COVERAGE???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
I'd actually be very interested in what Hillary Clinton has to say about McBushs' new spin on this.
Obama/Biden '08