The study, by the respected Lewin-VHI consulting firm, concluded that it was possible, as Clinton proposed, to extend health care to all Americans without a general tax increase and that more than half of all Americans will pay less for the same or better coverage. Beyond that, Lewin-VHI found that the Clinton plan would be far more costly to consumers, companies–and the government–than the White House maintains. “There’s plenty of ammunition for us,” said a GOP congressional strategist. Among the critical findings:
The cost of health-care premiums would be 17 percent higher than White House estimates. In 1998, the study says, the annual premium for two-parent families with children would be nearly $6,000.
The cost to government over the first five years would be $78 billion more than the White House’s $286 billion projection.
That would wipe out most of the plan’s estimated savings through the year 2000, even with an optimistic view of the effect of cost controls.
To put the best spin on such troublesome numbers, the White House turned to political guru James Carville. He came in late last week to plot strategy for January’s health-care push.
