In an era of incrementalism, reformers face a crossroads. But the Bradley plan would turn the Medicaid population over to the tender mercies of private managed care, leaving some people unable to afford even the present level of Medicaid coverage. Instead, we should preserve and expand these realms of genuinely socialized health care. One simple proposal with wide appeal is universal health care for children. Instead of the present patchwork, every American child would get comprehensive coverage.
Kids are relatively cheap to insure.
They are the most important population for universal early screening and prevention. The Congressional Budget Office now projects that the federal surplus may be a trillion dollars more than previously forecast. This may be the only time in decades when there are the resources to significantly expand social provision. President Clinton has framed the policy choice as preserving Social Security and Medicare versus a tax cut. However, the form of that investment is as important as the scale.