The American Medical Association is among the groups talking to Iowans at the Iowa State Fair this week in Des Moines.
James Hubbard, a pediatrician from Dubuque, says the AMA is asking voters to pressure the presidential candidates to develop a plan for all Americans to have health insurance. Hubbard says one in seven Americans are uninsured, and Iowans are in a position to address the problem with the presidential candidates.
Samantha Rosman, a pediatrician from Boston, heads the AMA’s task force on health care reform. "We’re just out here to remind (Iowans) to vote with this issue in mind," Rosman says, "and remember to ask the presidential candidates what their plan is."
Hubbard says the AMA’s proposal to cover the uninsured would give patients a choice of plans. "We believe in a private sector plan that will help individuals own their own health insurance policies," Hubbard says. "Over time, putting less of a burden on employers to provide that coverage and providing tax incentives and credits and assistance when needed for individuals to purchase their own insurance."
Rosman says the AMA plan would involve a mix of private and public funding. "What we really want to do is give people the ability to purchase their own health care coverage," Rosman says, "because we feel it’s important people have the choice of what works best for them and their families."
More information about the AMA and their campaign is available on-line at www.VoiceForTheUninsured.org .