Obama and McCain on Health Care

Learn how each candidate plans to tackle health care reform.

Both the major party presidential candidates have proposed health care reform plans. They do have one thing in common: they hope to provide coverage to more people while not forcing anyone to buy it. But that's about all they share.

Senator Barack Obama: Obama would create a national pool that would let anyone buy health insurance. The coverage would be subsidized for those who can't afford insurance—a group that includes many people who are well above the poverty line but still unable to pay costs that can run $1,000 a month or more for a family. Paying for this would mean raising some taxes: Obama thinks those will hit only taxpayers who make more than $250,000 a year. For those who can pay for coverage but are scared off by the rates that insurance companies charge folks trying to buy coverage outside of employer or group plans, the national pool would make individual coverage more affordable.

Senator John McCain: McCain proposes tax credits of $2,500 for an individual or $5,000 for a family to pay for health insurance. Everybody would be eligible for the credit, but people who do get insurance through their employers would have to start paying taxes on what their employer pays in, just as if it was part of their salary. This could mean a tax increase for a few people--though between the new taxes and the credit, the average family that keeps their employer provided insurance is likely to come out a little bit better than even.

See where Obama and McCain stand on other issues.

• • Barack Obama
• • Health Insurance
• Election '08
• • John McCain

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