December 5, 2008 What changes will Obama make to health care? Play video

(Alison King, NECN) - Health care reform. President-elect Obama made it primary goal during the campaign. So, what changes can we expect?

Obama TV Ad: “My mother died of cancer at 53. Those last painful months, she was more worried about paying her medical bills then getting well...”

Toward the end of the presidential campaign Barack Obama blasted the battleground states with dozens of TV ads focused on health care -- sending, what Harvard health policy expert Robert Blendon says was a clear message.

BLENDON: He sent a signal to voters that after the economy, I thought health care was important and that's tough to say, "I forgot."

Blendon was one of several speakers that gathered in Boston to discuss the role of health care in the 2008 election and what it all means now for the Obama administration.

Professor Blendon's research shows that three quarters of health care voters chose Obama -- and they did so because they have very high expectations -- that Obama will make significant health care reform -- and that he'll do it quickly.

Like Obama supporter Marguerita Diaz.

MARGUERITA DIAZ/BOSTON: I think he will work to improve universal health insurance for all of America.

On the campaign trail, Obama pledged to reduce health care costs, improve quality, cover every child and eventually provide universal health care.

Blendon says Obama now has some tough decisions to make -- given the severe financial crisis

-- and the polling which shows the majority of voters do not want their taxes raised to make reform a reality

Phil Johnston served in health and human services as the Clinton administration tried to pass universal health care.

He says there were plenty of lessons learned from that failure: the plan must be kept as uncomplicated as possible and members of congress need to play a key role in crafting the legislation.

PHIL JOHNSTON: The Obama plan would cost between 75 and 150 billion dollars to cover 50-million uninsured Americans. That's chump change compared to what the Wall Street guys just grabbed.

Kerry Healy was lieutenant governor during the Romney administration when the health care reform package passed in Massachusetts. He says it's important to focus

Ironically, Blendon says the economic downturn provides a rare opportunity to pass significant health care reform.

If he says, reform can be tied into the economic recovery, congress and Americans are likely find it acceptable.