Another Look at Presidential Politics–Predictions for the Workplace–McCain on Healthcare

Senator John McCain’s approach to healthcare seems quite different from that of Clinton and Obama. Fixing healthcare is such a complicated matter, however, it’s difficult to know what approach, if any, will be used by whoever is elected President.

McCain says he believes in a free-market, consumer-based system. He opposes any mandate requiring everyone to obtain health insurance. He believes that it’s possible for every American to have affordable healthcare (without forcing them to) with no tax increase. It’s obvious that Governor Huckabee isn’t the only person who believes in miracles.

McCain’s approach focuses on controlling healthcare costs; making health insurance plans more portable; providing tax credits for health insurance ($2,500 for an individual, $5,000 for a family); revising the tax code to eliminate or reduce tax deductions for company-sponsored health insurance; allowing the importation of cheaper drugs into the U.S.; and streamlining the process for introducing generic drugs.

McCain would oppose a government-sponsored universal health insurance plan. He believes that individuals should be in charge of their own health insurance. He says that encouraging greater competition between health insurance companies, medical providers, and drug companies will drive the cost of healthcare down and make it more affordable for everyone. He does believe in greater government monitoring of the quality of healthcare and the elimination of the payment by anyone for healthcare services that are of inadequate or poor quality. He supports shoring up healthcare for veterans and recognizes the need for there to be some government help in rural areas and for the poor. However, this help would be of a temporary nature, as opposed to a system that guarantees long-term, universal care.

1. 

   Will says:

   March 8, 2008 at 2:25 pm

   Indeed, I think the crux of his plan is allowing individual coverage to compete with the current employer-provided care monopoly and expanding HSAs.

   I wish we had some sort of pilot project on individual coverage, it would be nice to see exactly how it’s played out. I think it’s our best option right now, though.
2. 

   John Phillips says:

   March 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm

   Thanks for weighing in. It’s very hard to know what the best option is. Even if we knew, I’m not sure we could get enough agreement to get it done.
3. 

   John Phillips says:

   March 9, 2008 at 1:25 pm

   Healthcare is one of the big issues for the workplace and society in general. Thanks for including my post on this in your carnival.