Platform Four: Health Care

Greetings.
Republican candidate John McCain first promotes bringing costs under control as a way to assist health insurance, save Medicare and Medicaid, protect private health benefits for retirees, and allow companies to effectively compete around the world. He also promotes competition throughout the health care system—between providers and among alternative treatments. McCain then wants to allow patients greater roles in prevention and care, putting more decisions and responsibility in their hands. While doing this, McCain wants to make public more information on treatment options and require transparency by providers regarding medical outcomes, quality of care, costs, and prices. To assist with Medicare, McCain wants to reform the payment system to compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention, care coordination and to make Medicare not have to pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement. McCain also promotes the passing of tort reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits and excessive damage awards. Provide a safe harbor for doctors that follow clinical guidelines and adhere to patient safety protocols. John McCain believes that insurance reforms should raise the variety and affordability of insurance coverage, and though reforming the tax code, wants to eliminate the bias toward employer-sponsored health insurance.

Democratic front-runner Barack Obama promotes to cover uninsured Americans by guaranteeing eligibility, so that no American will be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditions. Following this, Obama promotes a comprehensive benefits package that will be similar to that offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the plan which members of Congress have, with affordable premiums, co-pays, deductibles and subsidies for individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need financial assistance. Continuing this, Obama wishes to ensure providers deliver quality care by aligning incentives for excellence. To assist doctors, Obama will strengthen antitrust laws to prevent insurers from overcharging physicians for their malpractice insurance and will promote new models for addressing errors that improve patient safety. Across the globe, Obama also wishes to continue the fight against AIDS and promotes a greater investment in it.

Hillary Clinton promotes giving tax credits to small businesses that provide health care to their workers to make them more competitive and help create good jobs with health benefits that will stay in the US. Much like Obama, Hillary also promotes insurance companies not denying coverage, allowing families to keep their coverage even if they fall ill or lose their jobs. She also promotes allowing Americans to receive the same insurance options as the members of Congress as part of the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program, much like Obama. Clinton also promotes removing hidden taxes, stressing prevention and a focus on efficiency and modernization to improve quality and lower costs. Finally, Hillary wishes to end unfair health insurance discrimination by creating a level-playing field of insurance rules across states and markets, to ensure that no American is denied coverage, refused renewal, unfairly priced or forced to pay excessive premiums.