The Louisiana Association of Health Plans hosted a forum for senate candidates today, as each candidate had their own take on the very controversial healthcare debate.
24 candidates have thrown their hat in the ring to run for U.S. senate, but only 8 candidates were at the forum today.
“No issues is more personal more sensitive or important to individuals and families than health care,” said Republican candidate Charles Boustany.
The topics that were discussed point for point were all on health care: choice, control, and quality, amongst several candidates running for U.S. Senate, both democrats and republicans.
One of the main topics was the Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare.
“Obama care is devastating jobs across America. It is taking full time jobs and making them part time jobs it is taking good jobs and making them into poor jobs,” said John Fleming, U.S senate candidate.
“Why do we have Obamacare? It’s because people need and deserve good quality health care in this country, and at one time we use to have it. Now it was back before probably my time as an adult, but we use to have it, and you know what happened government came in and started regulating you to death,” said Democratic candidate Troy Hebert.
Some said they voted against the Affordable Care Act and would vote to repeal it.
“If we cannot repeal it than we need to fix it. We need to fix the provisions that right now can enable federal funds to go into abortion except for executive order of President Obama, and we need to fix the ACA, and how it affects small businesses,” Republican candidate Joseph Cao said.
Others say it’s not going away.
“ I think we have to fix it absolutely there are several things that have to be changed, and we have to work together and certainly in partnership in industry to try and make sure that we are delivering on quality care at an affordable price, which are spiraling out of control,” said Democratic candidate Caroline Fayard.
Boustany said he saved taxpayers billions by eliminating part of the Obama care law called the class act.
“I can tell you I’ve done a lot during the time I’ve been in congress. I authored the largest defeat to Obama care to date,” said Boustany.
Candidates also proposed solutions for how to make the system better.
“ We need a patient centered healthcare delivery system that looks like someone designed it on purpose. We have to have more choice. We have to have more competition. We have to have more price transparency. Nobody knows how much this stuff costs,” Kennedy said.
“I understand the importance of health insurance, and I really understand the pricing of it.
Because we have people come into our offices everyday looking for a good deal or getting good insurance at a reasonable price,” said Foster Campbell, Democratic candidate.
“It is important and necessary to keep in mind that we need to have a health care system that all Americans and all Louisianians regardless of who you are: social economic class or status, predisposing conditions are able to have access to and can be treated in a way that’s high quality and have the continuity and care that each human being deserves,” Democratic candidate Josh Pellerin said.
The election is on November 8th.