Barack Obama’s Health Care Policy
Barack Obama’s plan for better health care in America is to provide quality,affordable and portable coverage for all.He plans to make available a new national health plan to all U.S.citizens,which will include the self-employed and small businesses.Some of the features his plan include:
* Guaranteed Eligibility.This will allow sick people (with recent and pre-existing conditions) to obtain health care.
* Comprehensive Benefits.This is similar to the package offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.It will cover all necessary medical services,which include preventive,maternity and mental health care.
* Affordability.There will be lower premiums,co-pays and deductibles.
* Simpler paperwork and reined in health costs.
* Public Plan with simple enrollment and ready access to coverage.
* Portability and Choice.People enrolled in the new public plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange (another Obama plan) will be able to move from job to job without jeopardizing insurance coverage.
* Quality and Efficiency.The health insurance companies participating in the new plan will be required to report data to ensure that standards for quality are met.
John McCain’s Health Care Plan
John McCain intends to increase the variety and affordability of health insurance to families in America by fostering innovation and competition.
This is how he plans to do so:
* By reforming tax code to eliminate the bias toward employer-sponsored health coverage and providing everyone with a $2,500 tax credit; families will receive $5,000.This will increase incentives for health care coverage.
* Allowing families to purchase health care insurance nationwide to maximize choices and heighten competition.
* Providing multi-year coverage that moves with you from job to job and from home to home.
* Requiring states with Medicaid to develop a financial risk adjustment bonus to high-cost and low income families that will supplement tax credits and funds for Medicaid.
* Allowing people to purchase insurance through any organization or association of choice (i.e.churches,employers,individual purchases,and professional associations).The policy chosen will be available to small businesses and the self-employed; and will be portable across jobs.It will also automatically bridge the time between Medicare eligibility and retirement.Certification and rigorous standards would have to be met before plans are approved.
Differences Between the Presidential Candidates’ Plans
Another difference between the two senators’ plans:Barack Obama is looking to rely mostly on the heavy hand of the government and will impose caps on health care premiums and price controls on drug companies.He would then have the government establish national practice standards for health providers and doctors.The National Health Insurance Exchange,another plan he wants to create,will act as a sort of clearinghouse to make it easier for individuals and businesses to shop around for the best health care.
On the other hand,John McCain is looking to attempt promotion of greater competition among health insurance companies,allowing rates to fall from the growing competition across state lines (without any use of the government’s power).The purpose of the plan is allow freedom of choice and puts Americans in the position to insist on lower costs for higher quality,just as we do with any other product or service we purchase.