It’s time for Christian leaders to tackle the issue.
In an editorial published last Sunday, The New York Times explored what it called “the worst long-term fiscal crisis facing the nation”—rising health care costs. The piece provided a helpful survey of causes and possible solutions, but no silver bullet. As the editorial concluded, “A wide range of contributing factors needs to be tackled simultaneously, with no guarantee they will have a substantial impact any time soon.”
The most arresting part of the piece was its summary of the United States’ health care dilemma, laid out in the opening paragraphs:
The relentless, decades-long rise in the cost of health care has left many Americans struggling to pay their medical bills. Workers complain that they cannot afford high premiums for health insurance. Patients forgo recommended care rather than pay the out-of-pocket costs. Employers are cutting back or eliminating health benefits, forcing millions more people into the ranks of the uninsured. And state and federal governments strain to meet the expanding costs of public programs like Medicaid and Medicare.Health care costs are far higher in the United States than in any other advanced nation, whether measured in total dollars spent, as a percentage of the economy, or on a per capita basis. And health costs here have been rising significantly faster than the overall economy or personal incomes for more than 40 years, a trend that cannot continue forever.
Indeed, rising health care costs have become a burden not just for the working poor, but for many middle-class Americans. It’s an issue that’s already on the minds of voters—in a New York Times-CBS News poll, Iowa Democrats likely to attend the January 3 caucuses called it their top priority—and it’s going to gain more public attention as the presidential campaigns continue. Democratic candidates will make sure of that.
“I don’t think you can run for president today without having a universal health care plan that covers everybody,” Hillary Clinton said recently, “because we want to go into a general election with that issue against the Republicans.”
That Democrats plan to make health care reform a major part of their platform in 2008—and that Republicans will be forced to respond—is unsurprising, perhaps. But what is surprising is how little evangelical Christian leaders have said about the issue.
In March, the president of the Southern Baptists’ Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Richard Land, supported a call to re-authorize and expand the federally funded State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) so that every child in America could have health coverage—a proposal that seemed relatively uncontroversial, at least until President Bush opposed SCHIP’s expansion on the contention that it would move middle-class children off of private coverage and onto government coverage.
The social-action ministry Sojourners has also called for health care reform, but its reach among evangelicals is limited. Why aren’t more Christian leaders speaking up?
In the last several years, the National Association of Evangelicals has denounced torture and mistreatment of India’s Dalits. It has also cautiously supported creation care and released a comprehensive public policy statement entitled, “For the Health of the Nation.” The statement lists such areas of concern as freedom of religion and conscience, protection for families and children, protection of all human life, compassion and justice for the poor, global human rights, the pursuit of peace and restraint of violence, and biblically based creation care. Ironically, for a document called “For the Health of the Nation,” it makes only passing mention of health care. Yet the average American is more immediately affected by rising health care costs than by, say, whether or not their community recycles.
No doubt evangelicals are as split on health care reform as they are on many other issues. But if we want to present a fully orbed vision for public policy, then we need to start engaging more deeply with the issue of affordable, adequate medical care—and soon. A community grounded in God’s Word and dedicated to proclaiming the One who came to save the sick, the poor, and the needy ought to have something to contribute to the rising discussion.
Posted by Madison Trammel on November 27, 2007 3:50PM
Comments
It's a tricky issue, because most evangelicals have aligned themselves with the Republican party, and they simply don't want a universal healthcare option.
So, it's either go with the Republicans on their socially conservative agenda but private, mandated health insurance, or go with the Democratic platform with their more liberal social agenda and universal healthcare.
Posted by: Rick H at November 27, 2007
Faith communities and families are deeply involved in the health care fight at the grassroots level. PICO National Network is a non-partisan network of grassroots faith-based organizations. As part of our efforts to revitalize communities and strengthen families we're working to bring religious voices to support the need to provide families with access to affordable health coverage. More information is available on our website at www.piconetwork.org.
Posted by: Gordon Whitman at November 27, 2007
This is a very difficult and complicated issue, yes. The problem is systemic in that the current problem is a result of a whole system gone wrong. We have to deal with tort reform, insurance abuse, political posturing, and the difference between rights and privileges to name a few of the aspects that need to be addressed and repaired as part of this.
Universal health care has never worked well in any major economy. The only country I'm aware of that has any success at all is Israel, and that is largely because it is such a small country.
I believe that President Bush was right in vetoing the expansion of the SCHIP. But I don't believe that we should abandon the struggle to find something that WILL work.
One of the fundamental changes we're going to have to make is to take this issue out of the partisan-political arena. And I'm not sure that's possible in our current political climate.
Posted by: Paul Ferguson at November 28, 2007
I am not sure what to say about this. Consider the fact that only a tiny minority of people who call themselves christians know what the Gospel really means. This is our calling, to preach the Gospel. Not health care, taxes, or public policy. Yes I know that Christians should be involved in politics and learn about the issues, but this issue should not be a priority for the church. My opinion.
Posted by: Billy Reed at November 28, 2007
Should Christians speak out and be involved with health care for everyone in our country. How can we not be? If Christians are so willing to protest, march and shout about the health/life of a human being while in the womb ... it would only make sense we follow through and be equally concerned about the health of everyone to the end of their life on earth. Remembering of course that Christ called us to be responsible for the spritual health care of everyone around us. Forget the "liberal" or "conservative" label, the blue or red color. If we are going to preach our government is based on Christian values, then how can Christians stay silent and not help find the solution. Let's do it.
Posted by: john at November 28, 2007
Universal health care usually results in some form of rationing. It has to happen in order to cut costs. Medicare already does so by denying coverage for many things. I don't believe the Bible mandates one system over another, so we can't say this system or that is more Christian. We can argue which might be more effective or help the most people, but we cannot say there is one that is more "Christian" than another. So I don't think we need an "Evangelical Position."
Beyond that, Christians are called to help the needy and the sick OURSELVES, not force others to do so by means of taxes. If we really want to have an impact on the healthcare in the US, we should do more of what we have done before. Provide that care through hospitals, clinics, and other neighborhood solutions. Christians in the field could find ways to cut costs without cutting quality, and maybe not be so quick to charge as much as they can possibly get because "the insurance company will pay for it."
As always, our actions will speak louder than our words.
Posted by: Chris at November 29, 2007
Health care is a tough issue, even with those that do have
"health insurance". The self inflicted diseases caused by
habits: smoking, over eating ,etc. But the stuff that hits you
by random chance: Altzheimers, Parkinsons,etc. If you do have
"health insurance" if you use it, the monthly premiums go up.
Right now, I am in the debate of Medicare Supplement Insurance
and the Long term care insurance as well.Someone said:"death is
cheaper".
Posted by: Thomas at November 29, 2007
If 'death is cheaper', then we really need to re-evaluate the measures by which we assess worth. Its this point at which Christians can speak to the health care issue.
Posted by: Martin at November 29, 2007
For those who are opposed to a one-payer system: think Medicare.
Like it or not we have had a one-payer system for years now, and it does work, not as well as it should , but where would we be w/0 it?
Hopefully someday soon "leaders" in the evangelecal system will start addressing this issue in a thoughtful way. Perhaps if we Christians quit worrying about who is in and who is out we could expend our energies actually bringing about God's kingdom on this earth.
Posted by: Bernie Kopfer at November 30, 2007
I do think Medicare and it scares me. I dread the day when I turn 65 and that will be the only coverage I can get.
Posted by: Chris at November 30, 2007
Christianity in many, and perhaps most, Christians' minds apparently now roughly equals Universalism, albeit with God along for part of the ride. Traditional Universalism has of course shaken off the shackles of the deity, but still has all of the necessary elements to constitute a secular religion, seeking, as does Bernie Kopfer, to bring about a utopian kingdom on this earth. Seeing as this is doomed to failure (as authority, please see Jesus's words from the Bible or a Burkean view of human nature), please stop the planet and let me off.
Posted by: DiverCity at November 30, 2007
For those who are interested, The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity has initiated a discussion on healthcare under the rubric of the common good. We have been in dialogue with a number of individuals pitching this approach and will be holding a conference in July '08 with the hopes of shaping the national debate.
Posted by: Michael Sleasman at November 30, 2007
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