HEAD TO HEAD
Orbis compares Democratic candidates' healthcare plans
STAFF
Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: News/Features
Democratic Candidates on Healthcare Reform
BARACK OBAMA'S main goal is to decrease costs by increasing competition and cutting waste in the current health insurance system. This would allow all families to afford insurance. The plan also expands Medicare.
Who is covered? Children are automatically covered, but not adults. Fifteen million uninsured adults would remain uncovered.
Costs to government: Unspecified
Funding: Rolls back tax cuts for the $250k+ bracket, asks business to cover employees and requires drug companies sell cheaper drugs to Medicare and Medicaid.
Universal? Not even close.
JOHN EDWARDS' main goal is to expand job-based healthcare coverage. Employers will be required to cover employees. He will expand Medicare and Medicaid to cover individuals, who can buy into a single-payer system called "Medicare plus."
Who is covered? Everyone will be required by law to buy some coverage. Same-sex couples would have the same spousal benefits as married couples.
Costs: $90 to 120 billion per year
Funding: He plans to roll back tax cuts for those who are in the $200K+ bracket
Universal? Everyone would be required to have some health coverage, but this does not approach equity, nor does it eliminate for-profit providers.
DENNIS KUCINCIH'S main goal is government run, single-payer, not-for-profit, universal healthcare plan that will be implemented by 2013. He would completely eliminate private, for-profit health insurance.
Who is covered? Everyone.
Costs: $2.2 trillion per year
Funding: Instates a 7.7 percent tax on employers, removes $245 billion in business tax deductions and calls for buying prescription drugs in bulk.
Universal? Yes. Kucinich's initiative is the only plan introduced by any presidential hopeful thus far to approach a universal model of health coverage.
BARACK OBAMA'S main goal is to decrease costs by increasing competition and cutting waste in the current health insurance system. This would allow all families to afford insurance. The plan also expands Medicare.
Who is covered? Children are automatically covered, but not adults. Fifteen million uninsured adults would remain uncovered.
Costs to government: Unspecified
Funding: Rolls back tax cuts for the $250k+ bracket, asks business to cover employees and requires drug companies sell cheaper drugs to Medicare and Medicaid.
Universal? Not even close.
JOHN EDWARDS' main goal is to expand job-based healthcare coverage. Employers will be required to cover employees. He will expand Medicare and Medicaid to cover individuals, who can buy into a single-payer system called "Medicare plus."
Who is covered? Everyone will be required by law to buy some coverage. Same-sex couples would have the same spousal benefits as married couples.
Costs: $90 to 120 billion per year
Funding: He plans to roll back tax cuts for those who are in the $200K+ bracket
Universal? Everyone would be required to have some health coverage, but this does not approach equity, nor does it eliminate for-profit providers.
DENNIS KUCINCIH'S main goal is government run, single-payer, not-for-profit, universal healthcare plan that will be implemented by 2013. He would completely eliminate private, for-profit health insurance.
Who is covered? Everyone.
Costs: $2.2 trillion per year
Funding: Instates a 7.7 percent tax on employers, removes $245 billion in business tax deductions and calls for buying prescription drugs in bulk.
Universal? Yes. Kucinich's initiative is the only plan introduced by any presidential hopeful thus far to approach a universal model of health coverage.
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