JOHN MCCAIN
Expanding access to coverage: Would provide refundable tax credits of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to get or keep coverage; would eliminate federal tax exclusion for workers on health benefits they get through their jobs; would allow insurance carriers to sell across state lines to create a more competitive market; would promote the use of health savings accounts that allow people to set aside money for medical expenses tax-free.
Existing illnesses: Would create a "guaranteed access plan" to give federal subsidies to a new generation of high-risk pools to cover people rejected by insurance companies.
Controlling costs: Would aim to improve prevention and management of chronic diseases; would restrict malpractice suits against doctors and health insurers; would promote generic drugs, require pharmaceutical companies to disclose drug pricing, and allow re-importation of U.S.-made drugs from countries where they are sold at lower prices; would gradually reduce payments to private Medicare health plans.
Cost: Says his plan would be budget-neutral over 10 years.
BARACK OBAMA
Expanding access to coverage: Would require all children to have insurance; would require employers to offer health benefits or to pay into a national insurance fund; would expand Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program; would create a national health insurance exchange through which individuals and small companies could buy coverage from approved private plans or a new government insurance option; would provide the uninsured an unspecified tax credit.
Existing illnesses: Would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums to people who are sick.
Controlling costs: Would aim to improve prevention and management of chronic diseases; would devote $50 million to promote health information technology such as electronic medical records; would promote the use of generic drugs, instead of more expensive brand-name ones; would reduce payments to private Medicare health plans.
Cost: $50 billion to $65 billion a year when all elements are phased in. Money would come from ending tax cuts for people with incomes exceeding $250,000.
