Baucus in POLITICO: Health Care System is in ‘Crisis’

By Kellyn Brown, 5-04-09

Montana Democratic Sen. Max Baucus wrote an opinion piece for POLITICO in which he argues that "crisis" is not too strong of word to describe the nation's health care system. The chair of the Senate Finance Committee who, along with Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, is leading the charge for health care reform, writes:

Between 2000 and 2008, health care premiums rose more than 78 percent, while wages rose only 15 percent. ... That’s a crisis.

During this same time, in my home state of Montana, health care premiums rose 88 percent, while earnings rose only 16 percent. ... That’s a crisis.

One-and-a-half million families lose their homes each year to foreclosure because of unaffordable medical costs. ... That’s a crisis.

It’s estimated that if we don’t act now, in just seven years, most Americans will spend nearly half their income on health insurance. ... That’s a crisis.

Read the entire column here. [End of article]