Bill Clinton: “First of all, keep in mind that most of our problem is with working Americans. And the problem with the so-called ``half…”

“First of all, keep in mind that most of our problem is with working Americans. And the problem with the so-called ``half a loaf'' here is that it won't work. That is, we have evidence now in the States--about 40 States have tried to just change the rules on insurance and put a little more money into covering very poor people to increase health care coverage. No one could say that is not good on its own, but the problem is if that is all you do, what has happened in the States is that putting people into a health insurance pool who cost more to insure without expanding the size of the pools leads to higher rates. Once the rates get higher, small businesses on the margin and individuals who are young and healthy get out. That makes the pool even smaller; and rates go up more. So what would happen, I am convinced, if we did what you suggest is what has happened in the States. Coverage would go up a little bit for a while; then it would go right back down, as it has in the United States for the last 5 years as States have tried to do this. So, again, I say we have no evidence that unless we are moving toward full coverage that we can control cost and maintain coverage for the working families of the country. Yes, one more. We're almost out of time. Haiti”