Obama and Clinton Spar Over Health Insurance Plans

The New York Times reports today that the Campaign of Hillary Clinton is taking issue with certain ads run by Senator Barack Obama concerning his health care insurance plan. The issue is whether it is misleading for Mr. Obama to refer to his plan as "universal" coverage. Unlike Ms. Clinton's plan, the Obama plan would not mandate everyone purchase insurance or be penalized. So, the question becomes whether a health insurance plan can be called "universal" without an "individual mandate." The Associated Press ran a fact check that summarizes the disagreement.

As this site noted, California legislators and the Governor appear to be moving toward an individual mandate system with a requirement on businesses to provide health insurance to their employees or face a tax consequence. Massachusetts already has an individual mandate system and there is some debate over whether the plan in that state is successful. Thus, unlike past elections where the concept of "universal care" and "mandates" were ephemeral possibilities, this election will be at a time when one state, and possibly a second (and much larger state), are actively employing such solutions. The old saying goes, "so goes California, so goes the country." So, does this mean that mandated insurance coverage will become the policy in the United States? If so, what part of that mandate will the business owner be required to fulfill? Would mandated coverage decrease health insurance premiums for business owners? More debate to come!