This PDF file from a bipartisan non-profit organization compares Obama's and McCain's respective budget proposals.
At least one interesting bit of data from it: McCain would offer a tax credit for citizens purchasing health care ($2500 for individuals / $5000 for families) but he would repeal the current tax exemption on health benefits provided by employer health plans. (See page 11.) So health benefits that are tax-exempt now would be taxed as part of personal income.
Two observations / questions:
1. It seems to me that this would have the effect over time of encouraging inviduals to move away from employer health plans and toward individual health plans. Since employer-provided health plans pool people together and thus reduce costs to the individual, the individual-purchased plan sounds like a worse deal (unless it comes with other means of pooling people together for cost-savings).
EDIT: A partial answer further down the page:
"Senator McCain has said he would work with states to create institutions that would expand insurance access to high-risk or traditionally uninsurable individuals. Under this plan, state governments and nonprofit institutions would pool individuals who want coverage and contract with insurers for them, while offering limits on premiums."
2. I don't know the details of how these benefits would be taxed, but on the surface it appears that the more benefits you receive, the higher your taxable "income" would be. So, the more sick you get, the more you pay in taxes. (I could be missing something here.)
http://www.usbudgetwatch.org/files/crfb/usbw082908promises.pdf
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2 comments:
Every time I hear the McCain health plan, it sounds like "here's 5 grand... good luck."
I don't understand why there can't be a cafeteria-type approach to health care. Both plans have good points and bad. I am unaware of any family health care plan that can be purchased for $5000, especially if you are high risk. We need to make sure that no one falls through the cracks anymore - even Obama's plan has some cracks in it. Use all of the ideas: tax credits, employer-based; health insurance savings; medicare/caid; high risk pools (these are currently outrageously expensive!)- offer the consumer all the options or combination of options.
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