McCain health plan includes $2,500 tax credit

[rodeodance]

Source: (Reuters)

McCain health plan includes $2,500 tax credit
Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:52pm EDT



By Kay Henderson

DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain outlined a proposal on Thursday to revamp the U.S. health care system by providing Americans with a refundable $2,500 tax credit as an incentive to buy insurance.

McCain's plan offers voluntary solutions to fixing health care in the country, where the high cost of care has meant millions of Americans are unable to pay for health insurance.

.......

His ideas are markedly different from plans for health care put forward by Democratic presidential candidates, such as a proposal outlined last month from the party's front-runner, Sen. Hillary Clinton, who would require health insurance for all 47 million uninsured Americans.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1136549020071011

[bullimiami]

1. tax credits dont help really poor people.

they mostly benefit the middle classes.

event though im one of them I just dont think its a reasonable approach.

[regnaD kciN]

6. Which is why ANY plan...

...that relies on "individual mandates" (i.e. "you're required by law to carry private insurance, but, if you can't afford it, we'll provide a tax credit to help") is a non-starter. And it doesn't matter whether it's being proposed by a Publican or a Democrat.

One of the unaccountable tragedies of this race is how many Democrats are still acting as if the Publicans are the dominant party, and that therefore any proposals have to meet the "we've grown up -- we're not liberals anymore" litmus test that we cravenly adopted in the Reagan-era 1980s. Whether it's a flat-out refusal to consider the sort of single-payer health care system that has worked wonders in virtually every other first-world nation. or always having to show you're just as "tough" in using military might against Arab/Muslim states as any neo-conservative, the Democrats seem intent on blurring as much of the difference between the two parties as possible. What a tragedy, and what a potentially-missed opportunity to win over a populace that is finally sick and tired of Bush and his party's entire ideology. :-(

[Warpy]

2. I guess he hasn't had to price health insurance lately

and I don't suppose he realizes that unless you're a member of Congress, you can't get insurance once you get sick enough, not for any price.

Maybe a $10,000 refundable tax credit plus forcing insurance companies to take all comers might start to fix the problem, but it would still allow insurance companies to deny payment, delay care in the hope that a patient would die before its approval, and deny care altogether.

End all insurance company abuses and you'll make for profit health care so unprofitable that the insurance companies will scream the loudest for single payer.

[LiberalFighter]

22. I doubt that they would scream for single payer

If it got that bad for insurance companies they would either increase the premiums, be more selective, drop that type of coverage, or stop insuring altogether.


The only way to make insurance affordable is to take the insurance companies out of the business completely. It would reduce insurance costs by about 30%.

As one already stated, a tax credit doesn't do much if one can't afford insurance anyhow.

[Warpy]

24. My secenario eliminated those abuses

making the whole thing unprofitable.

Insurance companies would be screaming for an exit so they could concentrate on things like disability insurance.

[mainegreen]

3. Sadly, McCain has forgotten that there are 12 months in the year, not two.

2,500 doesn't buy much.

[MissMillie]

14. literally, for my son, not even one half year of coverage

and that's just one individual. How is $2,500 suppose to help a family?

[shain from kane]

16. Exactly. Looks like I'll be able to afford medical insurance for one year, every 4 years. I'll just

need to plan my illnesses for the applicable year.

[regnaD kciN]

4. What a great solution!!!

:sarcasm:

The cost of basic health insurance for a family is around, what, $12,000-$15,000/year? $2,500 will sure help lower-income people afford that, won't it? :crazy:

(I guess I should look on the bright side...unlike Hillary's "No Insurance Company Left Behind" plan, this doesn't order people to buy a private health plan even if they can't afford it. Or does it?)

[AllyCat]

11. At least it doesn't appear to be mandatory like Clinton's stupid plan

But it sure won't help many folks either, will it? And if we already get insurance through our employers, do we still get the credit to pay the part they don't pay? Gosh, maybe I could actually come out ahead on this plan. Not.

[LiberalFighter]

23. Back in 1992 I think it would had cost me about $700 a month

or about $8500 a year as a single person. And I have good insurance.

[Atman]

5. God, these people just don't get it!

Tax credits and vouchers do NOTHING if you don't have money in the first place! "Tax credits" is the only solution they ever offer, as if the dirt poor have any income tax on which to seek a credit. The republicans are stupid fools.

.

[JDPriestly]

7. Tax credit = zilch (nothing) for too many of us.

And $2,500 per year -- is also zilch (nothing). How much health insurance can you buy for $2,500? My HMO insurance (cheapest I can find with huge deductibles and co-pays), not counting co-payments costs over $3,960 per year. I would hate to think how much insurance would cost for a family. If it is four times that and even if the tax credit is $2,500 per person, the total cost of insurance for the family is $15,840 plus deductibles and co-pays and the difference between that and the difference between that and a $2,500 ($10,000) tax credit per person is $5,480. This is not helpful for most people.

[damntexdem]

8. How nice for the rich and the comfortable.

Too bad for the poor and near-poor. Their health just isn't important to McCain.

[Bitwit1234]

9. I agree with other posters, what good is a $2,500 tax credit

for those Americans who can't even afford to pay for health insurance.

[Mz Pip]

10. Tax credits do nothing to

address two huge problems in health care. Insurance companies won't take you if you have a pre-existing condition, and some of those can be really minor things. Also it ignores the fact that health care for a family, even without pre existing conditions, costs a whole lot more than 2500.


Try doing a bit or research Senator before you offer up another lame solution to the health care crisis.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[ProudDad]

12. Gee, Golly, WOW!!!

That's nearly 2 1/2 months of (for profit health insurance mafia) coverage for me...

Wow, what generosity... :sarcasm:

HR676 - Universal Single-Payer is the BEST WAY...


Edward's full plan (if it's even possible to pass) is 2nd best...


This one is SHIT, just like ALL of the rest of the repubs and Dems' "plans"...

[sallyseven]

13. 2500 doesn't even pay the oil bill. McCain is nuts.

[Vinca]

15. McCain is so out of touch with reality. When it comes to healthcare,

$2,500 is chump change to the insurance companies. That won't buy the toilet paper for the corporate restroom.

[grilled onions]

17. Too Sick To Work? But Can't Get On Disability?

I have not read any plans that nearly address this issue or the pre-existing clause either. Those who are dealing with catastrophic medical problems in their family are not getting the help they need either. Every day it's a battle with insurance companies to pay for meds or equipment. The "great minds" should have a little caht with many on the verge of financial disaster thanks to the lack of decent,affordable health care for everyone. The kind that has no clauses that can boot you out if you get a hangnail or lose your job.

[shain from kane]

18. If we were all making $50.00 per hour, picking lettuce, we could afford medical insurance.

[McCamy Taylor]

19. Like the nation's CEOs need $5000 back each. Maybe tax rebates for

the middle class only (and make them increase with age since insurance premiums increase with age) and the government pays for the insurance for the lower middle class and those living under the poverty level. But why do people who are wealthy need any kind of tax rebate? They usually work for or own companies that provide great benefits already.

[Maeve]

20. Like anything McCain says matters

Too much too little and too late.
Say goodnight, Johnny, and pack it in.

[Robbien]

21. There McCain goes again pissing off more people. Now its the GOPers

turn to be pissed of by McCain. Expanding the nanny state does not go over well with the rabid right.