McCain: Position on Health Care

Health care costs are increasing rapidly in the U.S. - within 10 years they are anticipated to double. This is an important area to address in the 2008 presidential election. The existing Medicare system will not be able to financially survive the upcoming baby boomer explosion.

Young or old, sick or healthy - this issue affects everyone. Take some time to explore how the candidates will attempt to correct this problem (see my previous post on Barack Obama's position on health care).

McCain's position on health care:

Does not advocate a national health care plan – leave individuals and families in charge of their own health care spending.

Allow US veterans to seek providers outside of the Veterans’ Administration (VA) system with costs covered by the government.

Promote competition between providers and insurers in order to reduce costs.

Require transparency of hospitals and providers to provide accurate information regarding quality of care and costs to patients.

Develop national standards to measure and record outcomes from treatments.

Reform the Medicare payment system.

o Do not pay for preventable errors and/or mismanagement by providers.

Allow states to experiment with alternative insurance and health care systems.

Allow health care professionals to practice nationwide in order to broaden potential markets.

Promote the development of advanced information technology systems for the management of health care information.

Support new and innovative health care delivery systems (e.g. urgent care clinics in retail store settings).

Pass tort reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits, excessive damage awards – more protection for physicians from legal action for those who practice according to clinical guidelines and patient safety protocols.

Insurance reform:

o Proved a $2500/$5000 (individuals/families) tax credit to provide incentive to citizens to get away from employer-sponsored health insurance plans

o Expand options for individuals to purchase insurance across states to increase competition

o Expand coverage to include coverage for multiple years or mobile/portable coverage (job to job)

o Allow people to purchase insurance through ANY organization (besides employer)

o Require states to modify Medicare awards to increase supplements to high-risk, low-income recipients

Promote personal responsibility:

o Encourage preventive treatment to avoid chronic diseases

o Stress education to children about the importance of health, nutrition, exercise

o Begin new public health initiatives to stop the expansion of obesity, diabetes and limit smoking

Update (3-3-08): A similar review of Barack Obama's policy on health care has been posted.

Update (5-1-08): A hub has been published that discusses the 2008 presidential candidates' fundraising efforts - how much $$$ does it take to run for president?

John McCain has proposed to eliminate the exclusion of health benefits from taxable income.