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Everyday millions of Floridians go without healthcare insurance, forbearing potentially life saving doctor visits and putting themselves at higher risks for health problems later in life. Families USA, the voice for healthcare providers, reported in Mar. that 5.8 million Floridians were uninsured at some point during 2007-2008, with 4.5 million going uninsured for six months or more. "The huge number of people without health coverage in Florida is worse than an epidemic," said Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have vowed to the American people that comprehensive healthcare reform would come by the end of the year. But many hurdles still remain for the Obama-Biden plan to succeed, including the highly unpopular 2010 $3.5 trillion budget.

The Obama-Biden plan sets out to provide affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors and plans. The plan estimates cost could be reduced by as much as $2,500 a year. It plans to do this by lowering drug costs by allowing more generic drugs current blocked by drug makers, electronic medical records, hospital audits and insurance company reform to increase competition. It will also require that insurers cover pre-existing conditions at fair and stable premiums. While the plan sets out for reform, much of the old healthcare system remains, President Obama told Americans on his first online town hall meeting, "I don't think the best way to fix our health care system is to scrap what everybody is accustomed to. Build on what we have and fill in the gaps."

Here in Florida Governor Charlie Crist has been promoting his own plan to insure Florida. The Cover Florida program started in Jan is a collaboration between Florida and private insurance providers to provide Florida's uninsured with affordable coverage. To be eligible for these plan you must have gone without insurance for at least six months and be 19 to 64 years old. The two plans, preventative and catastrophic bring a low price to the table, but also bring low coverage and up front costs for care. The plan has yet to gain much attention, only enrolling 964 participants since March. Gov. Crist hopes state and local organizations can promote the program saying, "Spread the word that affordable healthcare coverage is available."

While no one can estimate how or when these reforms will take place, one question remains on the minds of many concerned Americans. What about universal healthcare? The issue of universal healthcare has been discussed for years and while many Americans have hopes such a system will come, it is still only a dream. The thought of universal healthcare faces deep resistance within our roots as a nation and the resulting views associated. Because of fear of government control, lack of choice and socialism universal healthcare can never become a reality unless these views change.

Only the future can tell if the Obama-Biden plan to reform healthcare will serve its purpose in insuring the alarming rate of uninsured in America. The Kaiser Family Foundation tracking health care survey reported 70% of respondents had a great deal or fair amount of trust in the Obama-Biden reform. But the question is still in the air whether or not the reform will take place or not.

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