Obama v. McCain on the Issues: Health Care

After all the lies we heard coming out of the RNC, and since the Republicans had their chance yet choose not to talk about REAL ISSUES for an entire week, let's take a closer look at the differences between Obama and McCain's policies that affect working families most.

ISSUE: ENSURING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS

BARACK OBAMA

• Obama Will Lower Costs By Up to $2,500 Per Family And Improve Quality. The Obama plan will aggressively cut the costs of health care by modernizing health information technology, improving chronic care management and reimburse employers for a portion of catastrophic health care costs.

• Guarantee Health Coverage for Every American. Under Obama’s plan, Americans can keep the coverage they have or take advantage of expanded choices, like a new National Health Insurance Exchange to help people purchase a private insurance plan and a new public health insurance plan similar to the one given to federal employees and members of Congress.

• Under Obama’s Plan, If You Like Your Health Care, Nothing Changes. Obama’s plan builds on the current system, retaining the employer-based health insurance system and creating a voluntary public plan to expand coverage. It will ensure that all Americans can choose high-quality, affordable health care coverage.

JOHN MCCAIN

• Under McCain’s Plan, Health Insurance Benefits Would be Taxed For The First Time, Resulting In A $3.6 Trillion Tax Increase On Working Families. McCain’s health care plan would eliminate the payroll deduction on health care benefits, which would have the effect of raising taxes on working families by $3.6 trillion. [New York Times, 5/1/08]

• The Health Care Tax Credit McCain Offers Would Cover Less Than Half The Cost Of An Average Health Care Plan. The McCain health plan would give families a $5,000 tax credit to purchase health insurance. However, in 2007, the average family health insurance plan cost $12,000 – more than double the value of McCain’s health care tax credit. [“Employer Health Benefits 2007 Annual Survey,” Kaiser Family Foundation, 9/11/07; “‘Call To Action’ On Health Care Reform,” John McCain 2008 press release, 4/29/08; Wall Street Journal, 10/11/07]

• McCain’s Health Care Plan Would Not Mandate Coverage For Those With Pre-Existing Conditions. McCain’s health care plan would not mandate coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, leaving high-risk individuals at the mercy of health insurance companies. Individuals with pre-existing conventions could lose coverage from their employers and then be left to the mercy of insurance companies on the individual market.[Washington Post, 4/30/08]

• McCain’s Health Care Plan Does Almost Nothing To Reduce The Number Of Uninsured. As the Washington Post has noted, McCain rejected calls for universal health care coverage, and according to the Tax Policy Center, his plan would do almost nothing to reduce the number of uninsured. [Vote 307; 8/2/07; CNN, 10/3/07]

That's not change, that's just more of the same.