All-American Presidential Forums on PBS" Moderated by Tavis Smiley

"We need a healthcare system in this country, which assures continuity of care. And we have the technology to do that, and we ought to invest in it."
Dr. David Satcher
Former U.S. Surgeon General

Read the interview

HEALTHCARE

Many Americans are concerned about our nation's healthcare system. Some candidates are proposing that now is the time for universal healthcare, as well as healthcare tax credits for people with low incomes.

A 2004 National Health Interview Survey1 reports that more than 41 million Americans are uninsured. The cost of being uninsured is high, as is the cost of being underinsured. Harvard Medical School reports2 that half of all personal bankruptcies are filed by Americans with insurance and medical bills that have gotten out of control. Single parents raising children on low wages and Americans 65 and older are particularly impacted by rising medical debt.

Rates of uninsured3 and underinsured African Americans and other minorities are especially high. Barriers—such as financial need, low literacy, not speaking English and discrimination—only compound the problem of securing appropriate and affordable healthcare.

On the minds of many Americans:

1 Universal healthcare—is it right for America?

2 Rising out-of-pocket costs—what can be done to help people with low incomes?

3 Medicare—should the age for coverage be lowered?

What do you think?

• Sources
• 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (499kb, PDF) (Visit website)
• 2 Harvard Medical School  (Visit website)
• 3 The Urban Institute  (141kb, PDF) (Visit website)