Obama Calls McCain's Health Care Plan "Radical"

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(CHICAGO) Barack Obama will bring health care back into the spotlight today, after weeks of heavy emphasis on the economy.

At a rally in Newport News, Virginia, Obama will blast John McCain's health care plan, which he describes as being "radical."

McCain is offering up a proposal to tax health care benefits received through the workplace, but in return, he would give a $2,500 tax credit for individuals and $5,000 for families. The tax credits would be paid directly to the insurance companies.

According to excerpts from Obama's speech today, he will argue that McCain essentially will be raising taxes because the tax credit will not directly go back to individuals.

"You read the fine print, it's clear that John McCain is pulling an old Washington bait and switch. It's a shell game," Obama will say. "He gives you a tax credit with one hand – but raises your taxes with the other."

Obama is advocating for a universal health care plan, which would be largely financed by eliminating the Bush tax cuts. While Obama's program would be cost between $50 - $65 billion per year, he says the average consumer would save $2,500.

The campaign will also unveil four new TV ads, radio ads, and mailers which will criticize McCain's health care proposals.

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by jefflz-2009 October 5, 2008 3:29 PM EDT: McCain backs the insurance companies not patients. His tax credits for health insurance is not the answer to those who can''t afford it in any case. Moreover, McCain will do nothing for those with pre-existing conditions. His old idea of creating a high risk pool is already a demonstrated failure. He also wants to tax healthcare benefits from employers indirectly canceling the tax credit. We are the only developed country that does not have healthcare available to all of its citizens without question. We have 47 million people in this country without any healthcare coverage whatsoever. We already have a working model for broad healthcare, it is called Medicare and it does work. We need to expand it to cover everyone. No citizen should ever be denied medical care they need whether or not they unemployed, whether or not they can afford health insurance, whether or not they have cancer or heart disease or asthma or any pre-existing condition! It is a fundamental human right. With no new ideas McCain has his head stuck in the past still spouting free-market slogans (as he did for Wall St.) and protecting the insurers, not the patients.; Reply to this comment


by texaslj October 4, 2008 6:41 PM EDT: An assessment by health care economists, in last months''s Health Affairs journal, projected McCain''s plan would lead 20 million people to lose EMPLOYER-SPONSORED insurance. BUT, 21 million people would gain coverage through the INDIVIDUAL MARKET.

Obama wants government to subsidize the cost of health coverage for those who might not be able to afford it on their own. He would require all but small businesses to make a "meaningful" payment for workers'' health coverage, OR contribute a percentage of payroll to the cost.

McCain proposes more patient control over care, and how health care dollars are spent. His tax credit could help people buy insurance through employers or directly from insurers licensed in any state.

The assessment published in Health Affairs found that McCain''s plan could lead to employers declining to offer coverage if workers can get it elsewhere. And that Obama''s requirement for employer contributions would lead to JOB LOSSES or PAY CUTS.

The cost to government, in additional agencies and offices employing an undetermined number of employees, to implement/administer Obama''s health care plan could, I suspect, exceed the cost of paying for everyone''s health care. Any plan MUST be fiscally responsible.

It seems more prudent to address the health care issue with a tax credit like McCain''s proposal, not necessarily identical, but a tax credit that could be administered by existing agencies to minimize startup/administration costs.; Reply to this comment


by Harvybing October 4, 2008 4:58 PM EDT: Those Bail Out Crooks Are Counting On Obama Appointing One of them as Attorney General so they can avoid prison time.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=67068

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMouthPeace; Reply to this comment


by mrtutto October 4, 2008 3:43 PM EDT: John McCain is doing the equivalent of offering you a Health Care coupon with an expiry date on it. If You take this deal, you''re on your own. The best part of Obama''s plan which very few people are touting is that you will be able to receive health insurance and not be discriminated against if you have a pre-existing condition. My daughter suffers from a seizure disorder. She is covered by my insurance policy. When she turns 23 next month, she will no longer qualify. No private insurance will cover her because of a pre existing condition. Her prescription medication alone will be 2,500 dollars every 3 months. You can''t get a prescription without seeing a doctor and that''s 300 dollars for a neurologist. God forbid if she needs to have another MRI ?; Reply to this comment


by jefflz-2009 October 4, 2008 3:42 PM EDT: Tax credits for insurance is not the answer to those who can''t afford it in any case. Moreover, McCain will do nothing for those with pre-existing conditions. His old idea of creating a high risk pool is already a demonstrated failure. He also wants to tax healthcare benefits from employers indirectly canceling the tax credit. We are the only developed country that does not have healthcare available to all of its citizens without question. We have 47 million people in this country without any healthcare coverage whatsoever. We already have a working model for broad healthcare, it is called Medicare and it does work. We need to expand it to cover everyone. No citizen should ever be denied medical care they need whether or not they unemployed, whether or not they can afford health insurance, whether or not they have cancer or heart disease or asthma or any pre-existing condition! It is a fundamental human right. With no new ideas McCain has his head stuck in the past still spouting free-market slogans (as he did for Wall St.) and protecting the insurers, not the patients.; Reply to this comment


by strangeworld October 4, 2008 3:14 PM EDT: Here''s a simple rule of thumb for voters...If something is endorsed by a republican, the benefit will go directly to business or the wealthy. Every policy, law, rule, or plan that McCain and other republicans endorse has a bottom line of giving the wealthy more money at the expense of the poor and middle class workers/taxpayers.; Reply to this comment


by estabwary October 4, 2008 3:12 PM EDT: My mistake -- Obama said that about McCain''s plan.

Still don''t like it -- RADICAL does not begin to address why this lack of health care coverage has continued in this country while the pork and and misuse of money has gone on so long.

Hope Obama drives this home better than "radical" wrong. Tell people to do the right thing and why better health costs less for everyone and is efficient.; Reply to this comment


by estabwary October 4, 2008 3:02 PM EDT: Now that is a strange way for a maverick to describe O''s plan.

Wouldn''t "ineffective" or "mundane"
be better? And make me think the maverick will address the issue more competently?

''Radical'' makes me think I should be afraid of it -- oops, there is that fear thing again.

Be afraid, must be afraid. :shiver:; Reply to this comment


by pastdue1 October 4, 2008 2:50 PM EDT: McCain is offering up a proposal to tax health care benefits received through the workplace, but in return, he would give a $2,500 tax credit for individuals and $5,000 for families. The tax credits would be paid directly to the insurance companies. ''

I do not understand how this will help those people who do not earn enough money to earn the tax credit. How can you give a tax credit to someone whose taxes are below that amount? These are the people who crowd our emergency rooms and who really need help.
Further, why must the Republicans always give the money to insurance companies ~ aren''t they rich enough off the tax payer already?; Reply to this comment


by xlib October 4, 2008 2:36 PM EDT: And the messiah should know a thing or twelve about RADICAL.; Reply to this comment