A look at positions of the 2008 presidential candidates on health care:
Democrats
Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: Expand health insurance to cover all children and to make catastrophic care available for all; look to states for ideas on moving toward universal coverage.
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: Unveiled her plan Monday. Mandatory universal coverage in first term. Tax credits for working families to make insurance more affordable — ensuring premiums do not exceed a percentage of income. Business would be required to offer insurance to employees or pay into a pool for people without it. Expand Medicare and federal employees’ health insurance plan to cover those without adequate workplace insurance. Raise taxes on wealthier families to help pay estimated cost of $110 billion a year. Also, raise taxes on a portion of “very generous” plans covering people making more than $250,000.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: Expand coverage by offering insurance that could be taken from job to job, with premiums based on ability to pay. No cost estimates. Offer coverage similar to that in plan for federal employees.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Mandatory universal coverage in first term, by expanding system of federal health insurance and family tax credits, and by imposing requirements on employers, insurance companies and individuals. Increase taxes on wealthier families to pay for program’s cost of up to $120 billion a year.
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Favors national health insurance program covering medical, dental, mental health and long-term care for all, as well as prescription drugs. “My plan doesn’t provide for a role for for-profit insurance companies.”
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Require employers to share costs of insuring workers and ensure all children are covered. No mandate that everyone must have insurance. Offer coverage similar to that in plan for federal employees. Says package would cost up to $65 billion a year after unspecified savings from making system more efficient. Raise taxes on wealthier families to pay the cost.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Tax breaks for businesses and for people who pay for their own coverage. Lower the eligibility age for Medicare to 55 and expand programs for poor and children. Package could cost up to $110 billion a year. Would seek savings in medical care by expanding spending on preventive care.
Republicans
Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback: “Market-based solutions, not government-run health care.”
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: Income tax deduction of $7,500 per taxpayer to defray insurance costs. Tax credit for poorer workers to supplement Medicaid and employer contributions, as part of “market-driven” expansion of affordable coverage. Expanded use of health savings accounts.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Favors market solutions, state innovation. “We don’t need universal health care mandated by federal edict or funding through ever-higher taxes.” Spend more on prevention and research.
California Rep. Duncan Hunter: Supported expansion of health insurance through tax breaks, not government-sponsored universal coverage.
Arizona Sen. John McCain: Has a record of promoting prescription drug coverage for older people and expanded insurance for children, but not universal coverage.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Incentives for states to expand affordable coverage. As governor, he signed health care law aimed at ensuring universal coverage through a mix of subsidies, sliding-scale premiums and penalties for those who do not get insurance.
Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: Market reforms instead of more federal spending to expand health coverage.
Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: “Market-driven” expansion of affordable coverage.
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