8th District opponents square off on healthcare

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - It's only about a month away from the 2012 election and big changes could be on the way.

In the Indiana 8th District congressional race, candidates are heating up about the healthcare issue.

Easily the most talked about issue, besides the economy, is healthcare.

With the Affordable Care Act passed through the Supreme Court, this year's election will be another showdown for the plan.

And, it's playing out in the Hoosier State.

By now you've become familiar with the names and faces. Republican Congressman Larry Bucshon the current representative of the 8th District in Congress and his Democratic challenger Dave Crooks, a former Indiana State Representative.

It's one of the biggest races locally.

With just a few weeks to go, News 10 wanted to find out where they stand on the hot topic of health care.

Over the past two years, the only issue bigger than the economy has been the Affordable Care Act. November 6,  2012 looks like the final argument on the law.

Republicans have hinted at repealing the law, but keeping helpful parts of it. That's exactly what Representative Bucshon says he'd like to see.

"(There are) certain sections of the act that address pre-existing conditions, the Medicare donut hole, children up to age 26 staying on their parents insurance, that will be immediately put back into law with separate legislation after its repealed,” Bucshon said.

His opponent Dave Crooks also feels there are flaws in the law, but he says Congress can fix them.

"I think that it's reckless to go along with Larry Bucshon's plan to repeal the affordable healthcare act. Even though I do have some reservations about parts of it, I don't like the independent payment advisory board,” Crooks said.

But both could agree on one thing: the price of healthcare is sky rocketing, and they say something needs to be done.

The difference is the plans to fix it.

That's what you will decide on November 6.