Why?

I have a question. Why are we, as Americans, without a national healthcare system? We are the only industrialized nation without some form of social welfare.

There are 2 state-run healthcare programs worth mentioning: Massachusetts’s Commonwealth Choice and Rhode Island’s Rite Care. Both programs have aimed to reduce the number of uninsured Americans with mixed results.

RIte care is a very well managed and effective Medicaid program. It however is only available to women who are pregnant, or already have children. Families participating in FIP are also eligible. Why isn’t it available to all low income and unemployed Residents?

Commonwealth Choice is mandatory in Massachusetts if you aren’t otherwise insured. This is a stab in the right direction, but it has a fatal flaw in that it forces people who don’t qualify for Commonwealth Care to pay up to $600 a month for health insurance that they can’t afford or face tax penalties. Affordable health insurance should