Election 2008 | American Medical Association Promotes Health Care Proposal in New Hampshire
[Jan 07, 2008]

The American Medical Association in recent weeks has promoted a health care proposal in New Hampshire as the state presidential primary nears, the Nashua Telegraph reports.

The proposal would provide vouchers or tax credits to help uninsured U.S. residents purchase health insurance as part of an effort to expand coverage to all residents. In addition, the proposal would seek to provide all residents with a choice of portable health plans. It also would offer health insurers financial incentives to cover high-risk residents and encourage residents to seek health insurance before they develop serious illnesses.

AMA board member Joseph Annis said, "Everyone should have health insurance. Be able to choose it. Take it state to state," adding, "This is controversial, clearly. There's no question about it."

AMA does not endorse specific presidential candidates but has asked residents to vote for candidates based on their support for the proposal. Health Coverage Coalition for the Uninsured -- which includes AMA and 15 other health care organizations, such as AARP, the American Hospital Association and America's Health Insurance Plans -- released the proposal last January (Smith, Nashua Telegraph, 1/3).