Now, it’s time to gaze at McCain’s ideas. Remember, I am a conservative, so I’ll probably agree with more of McCain’s ideas.
For John McCain, I deleted his explanation and just put in my comments. Concept the entire paragraphs at his website. Again the quotes are from the website and everything else is my comment.
“Making Health Insurance Innovative, Portable and Affordable
John McCain Will Reform Health Care Making It Easier For Individuals And Families To Obtain Insurance.”
McCain wants to use competition and eliminate state lines for health coverage. This is going to tick (I changed to tick at the last microscopic) off some state insurance commissioners. Insurance is governed by the state. They do need to create universal policies, as they did with Medicare supplements. This is a lot of work and I’m not sure it can be done.
“John McCain Will Reform The Tax Code To Offer More Choices Beyond Employer-Based Health Insurance Coverage.”
Here, you settle your plan and the government pays the premium to the company. This makes sense, because if they sent the money to all individuals to pay their plan, you all know someone’s not going to do it. This section is what the commercial Obama runs that says, “and the money goes to the insurance companies.” (This is said in an ominous voice.) Of course it does, it pays the premiums. You can also choose your employers plan. It also allows for those that are frugal and don’t use all the money, to have it put in a Health Savings Account.
“John McCain Proposes Making Insurance More Portable.”
This is not just Cobra or coverage for preexisting conditions, but the ability to keep the insurance even if you retire early or become a stay at home parent.
“John McCain Will Assist And Expand The Benefits Of Health Savings Accounts (HSA) For Families.”
A Health Savings Account is like an IRA for medical costs. The money is yours and it goes to your children. It combines with a high deductible and if the money isn’t needed, you can get a higher deductible the next year. The cost of the catastrophic plan (the high deductible insurance) is coarse and much of the premium goes into the Health Savings Record. This plan has been around a while be he’s expanding it and I’VE ALWAYS LOVE THE PLAN! It’s super trim and puts the consumer in charge of his medical expenses.
“Health Care Costs.”
This section is rhetoric and of no value.
“CHEAPER DRUGS: Lowering Drug Prices.”
I hadn’t read the entire plan prior but am doing it as I write the article. I’m jubilant to see that this is also in McCain’s plan, just as it was in Obama’s.
“CHRONIC DISEASE: Providing Quality, Cheaper Care For Chronic Disease.”
Okay, I made fun of something like this on Obama’s plan but McCain went on to explain that emphasis would be placed on early prevention, and building up the health care industry by focusing on preventive medicine. John isn’t planning on sitting by anyone’s bedside either.
“COORDINATED CARE: Promoting Coordinated Care.”
I had to use McCain’s own words for this. For anyone that has ever had any treatment of any kind from a hospital, this is heaven sent. I drove myself in to the emergency room when my heart raced over 250 bpm. The doctor slapped an ice pack on my neck and it cost me $3000, I think. I kept getting so many bills and there really weren’t that many people that saw me. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what the heck you’re paying for, this should be your highlight. Here’s the direct quote.
“We should pay a single bill for high-quality disease care which will make every single provider accountable and responsive to the patients’ needs. “
ONE bill!!! It’s about time.
“GREATER ACCESS AND CONVENIENCE”
Government promoted walk-in clinics in retail outlets.
“INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY”
Use more Internet services, which allow doctors to cross state lines to practice.
“MEDICAID AND MEDICARE”
McCain’s beget words
“We must reform the payment systems in Medicaid and Medicare to compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention and care coordination. Medicaid and Medicare should not pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement.”
“SMOKING”
Offer free smoking terminate programs. (Yeah, like I’m going to take him up on it)
“STATE FLEXIBILITY: Encouraging States To Lower Costs”
This gives the states the right to accept alternative ways to insure members under Medicaid.
“TORT REFORM”
Again, I’ll use McCain’s words.
“Passing Medical Liability Reform. We must pass medical liability reform that eliminates lawsuits directed at doctors who follow clinical guidelines and adhere to safety protocols. Every patient should have access to legal remedies in cases of bad medical practice but that should not be an invitation to endless, frivolous lawsuits.”
“TRANSPARENCY”
Give the patient more information. If you go to a good doctor, you already should have this. If you don’t, find another doctor.
“Confronting the Long-Term Challenge
John McCain Will Develop A Strategy For Meeting The Challenge Of A Population Needing Greater Long-Term Care.”
McCain opened the subject but had nothing definitive. He wants to find alternatives to the system before its too late. Babes and younguns’ we baby boomers are soon to be a tremendous group of senile citizens. Daily, I question whether I’ve crossed the line yet. I’m disappointed there was no firm concept, but glad at least it was mentioned.
Stop at the candidate’s websites and see what the platforms are yourself. This is my interpretation. You need to read and decide it for yourself.
Barack Obama on Health Care:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/#make_health_insurance_work
John McCain on Health Care: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm
