Candidate Responses
Clinton has introduced the American Health Choices plan, which would require all Americans to sign up for health care. There are three key options: people could keep their existing plan; choose plans that are similar to those offered federal employees; or enroll in a plan similar to Medicare. Her plan would forbid insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more for pre-existing conditions. All large employers would be required to insure their workers or contribute to a federal pool. Smaller businesses could get tax credits for providing health coverage. Clinton said her plan could be paid for by eliminating the president’s tax cuts for those making more than $250,000.
Biden supports universal health care and wants to expand coverage for children under the age of 18 first. He would do that by expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which gives government subsidies to families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.
He wants to create a federal pool to reimburse employers and insurers for 75 percent of the catastrophic health costs (more than $50,000) for active and retired employees and their families.
To pay for his plan, Biden would eliminate some of President Bush’s tax cuts, especially the tax break on dividends.
Dodd has proposed a “Universal Healthmart,” similar to what is offered federal employees and would require all children to be under the plan. Americans could keep their existing health coverage, or enroll in this new plan. Fees – for both businesses and individuals – would be based on an ability to pay.
He proposes paying for it through employer and employee premiums, reducing inefficiencies in the existing system and revenues coming from ending the war in Iraq.
Edwards would require all Americans to get health insurance, which would be subsidized by employers and the government. He would create regional “health care markets” that would offer choices among competing insurance plans. Employers would pay for workers’ insurance or contribute to those costs through the health markets. Edwards would pay for his plan primarily by eliminating the tax cuts enacted by Bush for those making more than $250,000.
Giuliani opposes any government-mandated health plan. Instead, he would offer a $15,000 tax deduction to families ($7,500 for individuals) so they could buy insurance. He also favors expanding health savings accounts to make them easier to participate in. Part of the rising costs of health care is due to Medicare fraud and frivolous lawsuits, according to Giuliani, who supports free-market fixes to reducing costs and improving quality.
Gravel proposes issuing vouchers to everyone based on their need. The vouchers would have a modest co-pay and deductible. If an individual – say an older person – needs more insurance, then they pay for a larger voucher. He also proposes to eventually phase out Medicare and Medicaid.
He proposes that his health plan would be paid for by the federal government and from fees from U.S. citizens.
Huckabee favors health savings accounts to allow Americans to purchase health insurance tax-free. He also advocates making health insurance premiums tax-deductible. He believes health insurance can be more affordable by using electronic recordkeeping and reforming medical liability.
The congressman has introduced legislation to create health care for all Americans through a not-for-profit, single-payer health care system. He argues that health care is a “basic right,” and not a “privilege.”
Kucinich would pay for his plan by increasing the income tax on the top five percent of wage earners, a progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment income and by taxes on stock and bond transactions
Obama’s health care plan focuses on making it more affordable for everyone. He would not mandate that all Americans get health insurance. He would offer plans similar to what federal employees receive and offer subsidies to allow those who don’t qualify for Medicaid the opportunity to buy in or purchase private insurance. Large employers would be required to pay for employees’ health insurance; while specific small businesses would be exempt.
He said he would pay for his plan by rolling back tax cuts enacted by Bush for those who make more than $250,000 annually.
Richardson would require all Americans to get health insurance and allow anyone to opt into the plan offered for federal employees. He would cover all children under the age of 5 by expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which gives government subsidies to families earning too much for Medicaid.
He has said he would not raise taxes to pay for his plan, but that costs would be split among governments, individuals and employers.
