Change and hope for healthcare reform?

Americans went to the polls and overwhelmingly voted for the change and hope promised by Barak Obama.

But how much change can we hope for? Maybe not so much when it comes to America's healthcare system.

The problem:

- double digit cost inflation and premium hikes

- $2 trillion in annual spending with questionable results

- 71 million Americans either uninsured or underinsured

The solution. Obama's proposed plan includes these numbers:

- $2,500 annual savings for the typical family

- $100 billion in upfront costs to bring coverage to most uninsured

- $50 billion to $65 billion annual cost after the plan is phased in

Some obstacles:

- 25% loss in value of the U.S. stock market

- massive bailouts for insurance and financial companies

- consensus on defining quality, affordability and universal coverage

Expectations:

- 60% of people who voted for Obama expect him to do something major to improve our healthcare system*

Of all the factors influencing the success of healthcare reform, overinflated expectations may be the most difficult to control.

America voted for change and hope. Let's be content with even the most incremental change in healthcare and not lose hope.

*Bob Blendon, Harvard School of Public Health