Clinton swept into office in 1992 in part because of his promise to create a universal health care program that would insure the nation's 37 million people who lacked such benefits. When he became president, Clinton appointed first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton to chair a task force responsible for drafting legislation. The bill, a sweeping program, met bitter resistance in Congress.
Since then, Clinton has talked publicly about the importance of taking incremental steps toward universal coverage. While a grand, far-reaching bill would be better, his acknowledgment of the health care crisis is reassuring; his latest public comments, coming on the heels of his re-election, signal a willingness to work. Clinton should continue to push for health care reform and make it one of his top priorities in his second term.
The New York Times reported Monday that Clinton may first work to improve coverage for young children. According to 1995 Census Bureau data, 9.8 million children under the age of 18 lack insurance. This is a staggering number. The administration is considering the possibility of working to enroll all eligible children in Medicaid. The Times reported that nearly 3 million children who are eligible for the federal-state health care program are not currently enrolled. This is a wise first step. While it may require the government to expend great effort, the uninsured children desperately need adequate health care benefits that Medicaid can give them. This may not be a dramatic idea or a bold plan - but it is necessary, and the administration should begin work on it immediately.
The administration also is considering assisting families who do not qualify for Medicaid to purchase private insurance for their children. With the advent of managed care and a resulting increase of Health Maintenance Organizations, coupled with more cost-conscious strategies on the part of health care providers, the price of health care is becoming more reasonable. With a little government assistance, more children will be able to have health care
Meanwhile, the president must continue to work on keeping Medicare solvent. Current government estimates show that the program may go bankrupt in less than 10 years. The president should immediately appoint a bipartisan commission to develop a plan to save Medicare - this should accompany any of the smaller steps the administration is considering.
As the president prepares his second inaugural speech and parade, he must not forget about the millions of Americans whom he vowed to help gain access to insurance. Of these, nearly 10 million are children who desperately need adequate health care to survive. Clinton has a chance to grab his place in history by increasing access to health care for all Americans - he must not blow it.