The Truth About McCain And Insurance Taxes

CBS Evening News Reality Checks Barack Obama And Sarah Palin's Latest Claims

(CBS)  It's one of the most explosive and important political charges of the election: "He wants to tax your health benefits," Barack Obama said.

Obama's charge was that that John McCain wants to tax the health insurance benefits Americans buy through employers, CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports.

"That's a $3.6 trillion tax potentially increase on middle class families," Obama said. "That will eventually leave tens of millions of you paying higher taxes."

John McCain wants a multi-trillion dollar tax on the middle class? Here are the facts.

Obama has the tax part correct, but the impact on the middle class is exaggerated - most people will see tax cuts.

McCain has proposed to end one of the largest tax breaks in the entire economy. Some 60 million Americans buy health insurance thru employers tax-free, and McCain would indeed begin to tax the value of the benefit.

However McCain also proposes to give the money back as a tax credit, $2,500 for individuals, $5,000 for families.

"Let's give them a $5,000 refundable tax credit to go out and get the health insurance of their choice," McCain said.

"It's mostly a tax break," said Len Burman of the Tax Policy Center.

The non-partisan tax policy center says except for the very richest Americans, most people buying insurance will see a tax cut.


"Families at all income levels would pay lower taxes, at least on average," said Burman. "On average, is about a $1,200 tax cut in 2009."

On the issue of energy, meanwhile Gov Palin touts her energy expertise based on Alaska's production.

"My job has been to oversee nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of oil and gas," she said.

Here are the facts: According to the Energy Department, Palin's numbers are high.

Alaska provides 14.3 percent of America's crude oil, and only 2.6 percent of it's natural gas. You can check out the Energy Information Administration statistics here.

On the health care debate, the Obama campaign tells CBS News that one day, the middle class will be hit by a McCain tax increase - but the experts CBS News consulted said that day is 10 years away.

[marychgo]

Your tax-vs.-tax-credit calculation may be correct for employees of large companies, but ignores the fact that, in small companies, annual health insurance costs are often MUCH more than $2,500 for a single employee, $5,000 for a family. It''s not just rich people who will pay more tax under McCain''s Plan!

[owlwomanxxxx]

It does not make sense...Why tax and then give it back???????????How much is the paper work going to cost???

[jbr19]

To the writer - you don''t know the economics of insurance premiums. The individual costs are so much greater than the employer group costs. The tax credit would not cover the increased expense.
So it''s a new individual cost. Out of pocket net difference.

[jbr19]

To the writer - you don''t understand the economics of insurance premiums. The individual costs are so much greater than the employer group costs. The tax credit would not cover the increased expense.
So it''s a new individual cost. Out of pocket net difference.

[jbr19]

To the writer - you don''t understand the economics of insurance premiums. The individual costs are so much greater than the employer group costs. The tax credit would not cover the increased expense.
So it''s a new individual cost. Out of pocket net difference.

[jabberwolf]

I love writers that get on MSNBC yet havent a clue about what they are saying.

How about capital gains taxes that will tax everyone''s savings and send wall street into another spiral!!??

[pullukat]

You must be kidding? Do you really believe employers will subsidize insurance if it is taxed? Have ever tried to buy insurance in the open market. Please think through before you write. Thanks.

[cbsprpganda]

McCain/Palin have a problem with the truth. They have been shamelessly lying about Barack Obama''s tax plan (not to mention everything else)on the stump and in grotesque attack ads that are out and out LIES.

And yet you make no mention of it choosing to focus solely on Obama''s attack on McCain''s tax plan. Why is that, CBS? You think you''re so clever no one will notice?

Your coverage is shameless, disgusting and fully transparent. You may as well begin the evening news with the disclaimer that you support McCain/Palin.

Should McCain win, you can be proud of the fact that you played a part in destroying the United States of America for the sake of enriching yourselves.

BTW--your coverage last week on how 3 families would fare under both tax plans was biased in favor of McCain and racist in that the lowest income family that would benefit the most was black.

[svsmr]

I employ 11 people in a California startup. Annual family premiums for a PPO with $500 deductible plus co-pays (ie a basic plan) are $8472 if the employee is under 30, $9,768 if 30-39, and $11,172 if 40-49. And up from there. We pay about 80% for employees. So the McCain plan must assume wages will rise to cover the premiums above $5K. Good luck with that.

[aztecdiva]

McCain''s healthcare proposal would make those who receive employer paid healthcare apart of your annual salary and making it a post-tax. It would cost more for all- family and individual. If your employer pays for your health insurance you play less taxes because it is excluded. McCain''s plan would cause you to be moved into a higher tax bracket employer paid healthcare tossed to the side. He has no clue about health insurance and how much it costs. This is seriously stupid policy proposal.

[sljefferson1]

I''m with the others. This tax and then give it back plan stretches all logic. These types of designs are always suspicious. Why not just be clear cut about it. Either tax or do not tax.

As for Sarah Palin''s energy expertise ... maybe she does know a thing or two about oil. It''s possible. But that would be where her knowlege of energy issues ends. In May, as governor of Alaska, she vetoed funding that had been approved for renewable energy research to the Alaska Center for Energy and Power. She stated that she did not think it was as important to research renewable energy. She would rather use what is available now. .... Er .... Like Oil. However, even her Pipeline project will not produce any significant amount for another 10 years. By then all other major countries will be far ahead in Energy Technology, while we still focus on oil. Ridiculous or what?

[ioweign]

43+ million have no health care insurance now.

If 43 million can not afford to get a cheap health care policy now, how can they afford it with even a tax credit.

[simplyhere]

Typical CBS drivel. And when my employer drops my coverage, and I can''t find family coverage for my tax credit, what then?

You ******* journalists. If you ever had to get a *** real job, you''d understand why everyone hates you so much.

[daveminer-2009]

McCain make good vice president. Me want hot Palin be president she kill moose and also beauty queen and will kill Russia from her house. No McCain Yes Palin. Me want beautyfull President want only woman in whit house. Men dumb need beautyfull woman. No sexist.

[et1004]

Premiums for a FAMILY can easily be near 1,000 a MONTH if you include the employer plus employee portions. That is $12,000 a year! How does McCain get to this pathetic dollar amount?

Right now I''m self insured and am paying $300/month for a $5,000 deductible. If your income is low enough you can write off medical expenses today.

And then let''s not forget something: McCain has no seeming interest in getting the millions of uninsurable Americans.... INSURANCE! He doesn''t seem to have noticed over 1 million innocent Americans have to declare bankrupcy every year because of medical bills.

[bear5creek]

So, would McCain''s plan effectively eliminate or reduce employee-purchased-group insurance? That is the only way many people are able to get health insurance since they have pre-existing conditions that cause them to be refused in the private sector. That would be a travesty.

BTW, I think CBS is showing some amazingly blatant bias on this story -- that seems to happen more and more with them.

[androgenique]

I don''t know about you, but I certainly pay more than $2500 per year in insurance premiums. I asked my sister, who has children, and she pays almost twice as much annually as any benefit she would receive with a $5000 family premium health care tax credit.

For your reference, your health insurance costs would have to be less than $209 per month as a single insured and less than $417 per month for family coverage to even break even. At these price levels, there is no effective choice, as there are few plans that offer health insurance premiums at this level (at least for what you and I would consider basic medical care).

Bottom line: The McCain Plan aims to help corporations that can effectively bargain for rates that the majority of working Americans can''t access. The health insurance companies then charge more for other plans to make up for the lost profits. The vast majority of _insured_ Americans would suffer under this plan, to say nothing of what it does for _uninsured_ Americans.

It stinks of class warfare.

[ks64]

My family pays $9300 a year for a very low-frills health insurance policy, so I don''t see how most families are going to find insurance for $5,000 a year. McCain advisors may be proposing that market forces will drive competition and lower prices, but health care costs are estimated to skyrocket over the next few years, so that $5,000 will buy less and less as time goes by.

[androgenique]

I don''t know about you, but I certainly pay more than $2500 per year in insurance premiums. I asked my sister, who has children, and she pays almost twice as much annually as any benefit she would receive with a $5000 family premium health care tax credit.

For your reference, your health insurance costs would have to be less than $209 per month as a single insured and less than $417 per month for family coverage to even break even. At these price levels, there is no effective choice, as there are few plans that offer health insurance premiums at this level (at least for what you and I would consider basic medical care).

Bottom line: The McCain Plan aims to help corporations that can effectively bargain for rates that the majority of working Americans can''t access. The health insurance companies then charge more for other plans to make up for the lost profits. The vast majority of _insured_ Americans would suffer under this plan, to say nothing of what it does for _uninsured_ Americans.

It stinks of class warfare.

[bauart]

"Have ever tried to buy insurance in the open market. Please think through before you write."

I couldn''t agree more Pullukat!!! To go on COBRA I was going to have to pay $1,000/mo just for me and my husband, now they want to tax on top of that? And yea, the editor that wrote this junk clearly has insurance thru CBS - go do some investigative reporting by calling up to get insurance on your own and then get back to us on how easy it was to save :-P If anything, healthcare expenses should be tax DEDUCTIBLE, not taxed MORE. The editor and the economist that wrote the plan should both be fired.

[ks64]

My family pays $9300 a year for a very low-frills health insurance policy, so I don''t see how most families are going to find insurance for $5,000 a year. McCain advisors may be proposing that market forces will drive competition and lower prices, but health care costs are estimated to skyrocket over the next few years, so that $5,000 will buy less and less as time goes by.

[androgenique]

I don''t know about you, but I certainly pay more than $2500 per year in insurance premiums. I asked my sister, who has children, and she pays almost twice as much annually as any benefit she would receive with a $5000 family premium health care tax credit.

For your reference, your health insurance costs would have to be less than $209 per month as a single insured and less than $417 per month for family coverage to even break even. At these price levels, there is no effective choice, as there are few plans that offer health insurance premiums at this level (at least for what you and I would consider basic medical care).

Bottom line: The McCain Plan aims to help corporations that can effectively bargain for rates that the majority of working Americans can''t access. The health insurance companies then charge more for other plans to make up for the lost profits. The vast majority of _insured_ Americans would suffer under this plan, to say nothing of what it does for _uninsured_ Americans.

It stinks of class warfare.

[sickandtaxed]

Story attempts at balance, and clearing up inaccuracies. How about the outrageous overstatement by Gov. Palin that she "oversees" 20% of the nation''s energy supply. The misrepresentation isn''t the number she''s using, as the writer figures; it''s the suggestion that she has anything to do with managing oil stocks or the energy business or anything else. This is not her job or authority. She happens to be the governor of a state smaller than San Francisco, in which the oil companies produce oil that she and her legislature tax (and then hand out to the state''s voters in political largesse along with all of those federal subsidies). Just another exaggeration from another tax-and-spend Republican, looks like.

On health care costs: why IS McCain trying to privatize the already private health care market? As with Bush''s crazy scheme to take away the safety of my social security and plunk it into the private hands of millions of unsophisticated non-investors, McCain now wants us all to have to become expert consumers of health care. Could it be that he''s seeking to take away from us the only clout we have in the "free markets", when our employers go up against the unregulated health care providers to purchase health plans? As a diabetic, I doubt I''d ever be able to see the inside of a doctor''s office again, or afford the daily meds I need. And forget about hospitalization coverage. No thanks.

[justsane-2009]

i''m not going to repeat what other posters have said (i.e., mccain has no clue what health insurance costs), but i am curious as to why cbs didn''t compare apples to apples. the republicans have been making gross mis-statements about obama''s tax and/or health plans. why not respond to that at the same time instead of the fluffy stuff about palin''s exaggeration about alaska''a oil and gas?

[nhaines]

If you''re going to cover a topic as important as healthcare, please give the full story.

1. Healthcare costs rise very quickly, much faster than the rate the rate of inflation. The rate of "tax refund" that McCain proposes will not keep pace with the rising costs of health insurance. In five to 10 years time, McCain''s plan will result in a major tax increase for all Americans. Only a small percentage will ever see a tax reduction and even that will be short term.

2. McCain''s $2500/$5000 "tax rebate" is supposed to allow Americans to buy health insurance in the private market. The average annual cost of health insurance for a family of five is around $12,500...and that''s if you don''t have pre-existing conditions! Even with $5K in hand, it would be difficult or impossible for an uninsured family to afford health insurance.

This election is so important. PLEASE be accurate and give the full story!

[dwlb1]

Len Burman of the Tax Policy Center is using funny math. This is not a net Tax Cut if you factor in the rising cost of health care. I believe under McCain''s plan benefits would be taxed like payroll as a percentage of income. A tax credit is a flat number. The cost of health insurance is skyrocketing.

Employers, especially small employers will face even greater incentive to get rid of health care benefits for their workers.

Group health care will be replaced even more rapidly by the individual health care market, which treats the sick, old and vulnerable with high premiums and deductibles that will eat up all the tax credits McCain could ever throw one''s way.

As an individual you can compete with massive health insurance companies with their armies of lawyers, doctors and accountants -- all employed to boost profits by cashing your premium checks and trying to pay out as little as possible.

McCain would push people into the shark infested waters of individual insurance. Here there''s no shelter for those with preexisting conditions unable to afford health insurance, no group plans to spread out risk. You''re on your own, just like when Bush let Katrina victims drown. Its no different. This is just denial of care, death by spreadsheet.

[wizbangmedia]

Sarah, Sarah, Sarah...
You haven''t spent anytime watching over 20% of this nation''s oil...the juggernaut Oil Companies watch over everything! What are you going to do...fink on them if they do something wrong? Sister, you''re just a talking head...with lipstick!

McCain(who is really GWB in old man''s clothing) wants to tax health benefits...so, employers are happy about yet another tax to deal with and McCain wants to give it back to us as a tax cut? Hey, old guy, why tax it to begin with? Oh I know, so you can create MORE government jobs for your political fiends to collect the taxes, play a shell game with the money, and ensure that our health care costs goes even higher.

So, this is how the game goes...you take, you give back, you take back again! Wow, how many experts did it take for you to come up with that plan?

Can you share whatever you''re smoking with everyone, so we can ALL see the same thing you see!

[dwlb1]

Len Burman of the Tax Policy Center is using funny math. This is not a net Tax Cut if you factor in the rising cost of health care. I believe under McCain''s plan benefits would be taxed like payroll as a percentage of income. A tax credit is a flat number. The cost of health insurance is skyrocketing.

Employers, especially small employers will face even greater incentive to get rid of health care benefits for their workers.

Group health care will be replaced even more rapidly by the individual health care market, which treats the sick, old and vulnerable with high premiums and deductibles that will eat up all the tax credits McCain could ever throw one''s way.

As an individual you can compete with massive health insurance companies with their armies of lawyers, doctors and accountants -- all employed to boost profits by cashing your premium checks and trying to pay out as little as possible.

McCain would push people into the shark infested waters of individual insurance. Here there''s no shelter for those with preexisting conditions unable to afford health insurance, no group plans to spread out risk. You''re on your own, just like when Bush let Katrina victims drown. Its no different. This is just denial of care, death by spreadsheet.

[rednyc]

This article is absurd. Yes, maybe McCain will cut some taxes- but does that mean he will not try to lead us into another war in Iran? The pentagon is already spending and building up an arsenal for the prospect of a war with Iran- under Bush''s orders. The republican party always plays this game of "we will cut your taxes" to win votes. And yet it has been the last three republican presidents who have been the highest record deficit spenders in history- creating almost all of the nearly 10 trillion dollar debt we now have. This debt, 4 trillion+ of it under George W. (another 4 trillion under Reagan and Bush#1) is without precedent in our history. The republicans are like junkies with the American people''s money buying more guns, tanks and bombs. And people actually buy the lies they spread of being for "freedom" - oh and the other lie they always tell that "democrats are the tax and spend party"! Please think. Look into how this debt is related to the state of our economy. Or how Bill Clinton''s fight to reduce the debt and balance the budget benefited us in the ''90s. Please everyone get some perspective. And CBS- think before you write!
To see the truth about the national debt go here--
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/mspd/mspd.htm

[rednyc]

This article is absurd. Yes, maybe McCain will cut some taxes- but does that mean he will not try to lead us into another war in Iran? The pentagon is already spending and building up an arsenal for the prospect of a war with Iran- under Bush''s orders. The republican party always plays this game of "we will cut your taxes" to win votes. And yet it has been the last three republican presidents who have been the highest record deficit spenders in history- creating almost all of the nearly 10 trillion dollar debt we now have. This debt, 4 trillion+ of it under George W. (another 4 trillion under Reagan and Bush#1) is without precedent in our history. The republicans are like junkies with the American people''s money buying more guns, tanks and bombs. And people actually buy the lies they spread of being for "freedom" - oh and the other lie they always tell that "democrats are the tax and spend party"! Please think. Look into how this debt is related to the state of our economy. Or how Bill Clinton''s fight to reduce the debt and balance the budget benefited us in the ''90s. Please everyone get some perspective. And CBS- think before you write!
To see the truth about the national debt go here--
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/mspd/mspd.htm

[llamamama1]

Did any of you read the article. Itsays, "tax health care benefits". If you pay 500.00 a month, at 25% tax base, that is 150.00, times 12 months equals 1800.00, the tax credit is 2500-5000.00. Do the math. Right now health care is taken from your pay check prior to taxes.

[mountainsky7]

What this article and Sen. McCain don%u2019t explain is how expensive purchasing your own health care plan is. According to the National Coalition on Health Care (www.nchc.org), in 2007 the average cost of insurance premiums for a family of four was $12,100. The tax rebate that Sen. McCain proposes doesn%u2019t even begin to cover the cost of health care premiums, not to mention additional costs for doctor visits or procedures.

If Sen. McCain was serious about health care for average Americans, he would realize that his plan may cost a family of four nearly $7,000 a year. That is $7,000 more than an average family has to spend on insurance premiums. We cannot afford a McCain administration.

[rednyc]

This article is absurd. Yes, maybe McCain will cut some taxes- but does that mean he will not try to lead us into another war in Iran? The pentagon is already spending and building up an arsenal for the prospect of a war with Iran- under Bush''s orders. The republican party always plays this game of "we will cut your taxes" to win votes. And yet it has been the last three republican presidents who have been the highest record deficit spenders in history- creating almost all of the nearly 10 trillion dollar debt we now have. This debt, 4 trillion+ of it under George W. (another 4 trillion under Reagan and Bush#1) is without precedent in our history. The republicans are like junkies with the American people''s money buying more guns, tanks and bombs. And people actually buy the lies they spread of being for "freedom" - oh and the other lie they always tell that "democrats are the tax and spend party"! Please think. Look into how this debt is related to the state of our economy. Or how Bill Clinton''s fight to reduce the debt and balance the budget benefited us in the ''90s. Please everyone get some perspective. And CBS- think before you write!
To see the truth about the national debt go here--
www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/mspd/mspd.htm

[rednyc]

Maybe McCain will cut some taxes- but does that mean he will not try to lead us into another war in Iran? The pentagon is already spending and building up an arsenal for the prospect of a war with Iran. The republican party always plays this game of "we will cut your taxes" to win votes. And yet the last three republican presidents have been the highest deficit spenders in history- creating almost all of the nearly 10 trillion dollar debt we now have. This debt, 4 trillion+ of it under George W. is without precedent in our history. The republicans are like junkies with the American people''s money buying more guns, tanks and bombs. And people actually buy the lies they spread of being for "freedom" - oh and the other lie they always tell that "democrats are the tax and spend party"! Please think. Look into how this debt is related to the state of our economy. And CBS- think before you write!
To see the truth about the national debt go here--
www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/mspd/mspd.htm

[rednyc]

Maybe McCain will cut some taxes- but does that mean he will not try to lead us into another war in Iran? The pentagon is already spending and building up an arsenal for the prospect of a war with Iran. The republican party always plays this game of "we will cut your taxes" to win votes. And yet the last three republican presidents have been the highest deficit spenders in history- creating almost all of the nearly 10 trillion dollar debt we now have. This debt, 4 trillion+ of it under George W. is without precedent in our history. The republicans are like junkies with the American people''s money buying more guns, tanks and bombs. And people actually buy the lies they spread of being for "freedom" - oh and the other lie they always tell that "democrats are the tax and spend party"! Please think. Look into how this debt is related to the state of our economy. And CBS- think before you write!
To see the truth about the national debt go to--
treasurydirect.gov

[ks64]

My family pays $9300 a year for a very low-frills health insurance policy, so I don''t see how most families are going to find insurance for $5,000 a year. McCain advisors may be proposing that market forces will drive competition and lower prices, but health care costs are estimated to skyrocket over the next few years, so that $5,000 will buy less and less as time goes by.

[rednyc]

McCain will cut some taxes- but he will try to lead us into a war in Iran. The pentagon is already spending and building up an arsenal for use in Iran. The republican party always plays this game of "we will cut your taxes" to win votes. But the last 3 republican presidents have been the highest deficit spenders in history- creating almost all of the nearly 10 trillion dollar debt we now have. The republicans are like junkies with the American people''s money. Don''t buy the lies! Look into how this debt is related to the current state of our economy. And CBS- think before you write!
To see the truth about the national debt go to--
treasurydirect.gov

[ok4obama]

I am a mother who pays for her own healthcare insurance. I am married with two children who pays 402.00 per month. Now under McCain''s plan my premiums are covered. For that amount, I get a $5000 deductible BEFORE my insurance covers 80% of the bills. I have no prescription discounts, that amounts works toward my
deduction of $5000 per year. My children have one wellness checkup each year and my co-pay is $15.00 per visit. Within the last two years I have paid a total of $7500, still beneath my insurance deductible. I say all of this because insurance costs have gone up and it''s not the premiums. Employer insurance is a benefit to its workers because you are able to use the amount of employee''s to lower monthly payments for everyone and the benefit to employer''s are the tax breaks. I don''t have to explain the results of McCain''s plan for employers and you. I don''t believe the insurance I''m paying for is worth the money and think that $5000 just doesn''t cover it. Why don''t I have cheaper insurance? Pre-existing conditions.

[rednyc]

McCain will cut some taxes- but he will try to lead us into a war in Iran. The pentagon is already spending and building up an arsenal for use in Iran. The republican party always plays this game of "we will cut your taxes" to win votes. But the last 3 republican presidents have been the highest deficit spenders in history- creating almost all of the nearly 10 trillion dollar debt we now have. The republicans are like junkies with the American people''s money. Don''t buy the lies! Look into how this debt is related to the current state of our economy. And CBS- think before you write!

[ok4obama]

I am a mother who pays for her own healthcare insurance. I am married with two children who pays 402.00 per month. Now under McCain''s plan my premiums are covered. For that amount, I get a $5000 deductible BEFORE my insurance covers 80% of the bills. I have no prescription discounts, that amounts works toward my
deduction of $5000 per year. My children have one wellness checkup each year and my co-pay is $15.00 per visit. Within the last two years I have paid a total of $7500, still beneath my insurance deductible. I say all of this because insurance costs have gone up and it''s not the premiums. Employer insurance is a benefit to its workers because you are able to use the amount of employee''s to lower monthly payments for everyone and the benefit to employer''s are the tax breaks. I don''t have to explain the results of McCain''s plan for employers and you. I don''t believe the insurance I''m paying for is worth the money and think that $5000 just doesn''t cover it. Why don''t I have cheaper insurance? Pre-existing conditions.

[benighse]

PRIVATE FAMILY HEALTH INSURANCE IS EXPENSIVE....IF YOU CAN FIND IT FOR UNDER $1,000 A MONTH, GOOD LUCK AND READ THE FINE PRINT....IF YOU DON''T BELIEVE IT, TRY AND GO PURCHASE IT YOURSELF RIGHT NOW....AND IF YOU HAD ANY KIND OF LAPSE OF INSURANCE FROM ONE JOB TO ANOTHER....GUESS WHAT?....YOU CAN HARDLY GET ANY INSURANCE THAT WILL COVER ANY TYPE OF PRE-EXISITING CONDITION....MCCAIN''S PLAN IS FOOLISH AT BEST AND ANYONE WHO BELIEVES HIM IS FOOLHARDY ALL THE WAY....I''LL VOTE FOR THE BEST POSSIBILITY OF HEALTH CARE THAT MATTERS AND HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF ACTUALLY WORKING....JOIN ME AND VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN ''08

[ok4obama]

I am a mother who pays for her own healthcare insurance. I am married with two children who pays 402.00 per month. Now under McCain''s plan my premiums are covered. For that amount, I get a $5000 deductible BEFORE my insurance covers 80% of the bills. I have no prescription discounts, that amounts works toward my
deduction of $5000 per year. My children have one wellness checkup each year and my co-pay is $15.00 per visit. Within the last two years I have paid a total of $7500, still beneath my insurance deductible. I say all of this because insurance costs have gone up and it''s not the premiums. Employer insurance is a benefit to its workers because you are able to use the amount of employee''s to lower monthly payments for everyone and the benefit to employer''s are the tax breaks. I don''t have to explain the results of McCain''s plan for employers and you. I don''t believe the insurance I''m paying for is worth the money and think that $5000 just doesn''t cover it. Why don''t I have cheaper insurance? Pre-existing conditions.

[ok4obama]

I am a mother who pays for her own healthcare insurance. I am married with two children who pays 402.00 per month. Now under McCain''s plan my premiums are covered. For that amount, I get a $5000 deductible BEFORE my insurance covers 80% of the bills. I have no prescription discounts, that amounts works toward my
deduction of $5000 per year. My children have one wellness checkup each year and my co-pay is $15.00 per visit. Within the last two years I have paid a total of $7500, still beneath my insurance deductible. I say all of this because insurance costs have gone up and it''s not the premiums. Employer insurance is a benefit to its workers because you are able to use the amount of employee''s to lower monthly payments for everyone and the benefit to employer''s are the tax breaks. I don''t have to explain the results of McCain''s plan for employers and you. I don''t believe the insurance I''m paying for is worth the money and think that $5000 just doesn''t cover it. Why don''t I have cheaper insurance? Pre-existing conditions.

[ok4obama]

I am a mother who pays for her own healthcare insurance. I am married with two children who pays 402.00 per month. Now under McCain''s plan my premiums are covered. For that amount, I get a $5000 deductible BEFORE my insurance covers 80% of the bills. I have no prescription discounts, that amounts works toward my
deduction of $5000 per year. My children have one wellness checkup each year and my co-pay is $15.00 per visit. Within the last two years I have paid a total of $7500, still beneath my insurance deductible. I say all of this because insurance costs have gone up and it''s not the premiums. Employer insurance is a benefit to its workers because you are able to use the amount of employee''s to lower monthly payments for everyone and the benefit to employer''s are the tax breaks. I don''t have to explain the results of McCain''s plan for employers and you. I don''t believe the insurance I''m paying for is worth the money and think that $5000 just doesn''t cover it. Why don''t I have cheaper insurance? Pre-existing conditions.

[ok4obama]

I am a mother who pays for her own healthcare insurance. I am married with two children who pays 402.00 per month. Now under McCain''s plan my premiums are covered. For that amount, I get a $5000 deductible BEFORE my insurance covers 80% of the bills. I have no prescription discounts, that amounts works toward my
deduction of $5000 per year. My children have one wellness checkup each year and my co-pay is $15.00 per visit. Within the last two years I have paid a total of $7500, still beneath my insurance deductible. I say all of this because insurance costs have gone up and it''s not the premiums. Employer insurance is a benefit to its workers because you are able to use the amount of employee''s to lower monthly payments for everyone and the benefit to employer''s are the tax breaks. I don''t have to explain the results of McCain''s plan for employers and you. I don''t believe the insurance I''m paying for is worth the money and think that $5000 just doesn''t cover it. Why don''t I have cheaper insurance? Pre-existing conditions.

[gkalman1]

Common, all you people. Think before you bash. It is a tax cut. This is a tax credit, not a replacement subsidy for you to buy personal insurance with or a subsidy to cover a deductable. I.e., if Joe pays $10,000 a year for health insurance through his employer, it comes from his pretax earnings. McCain is proposing to make these $10,000 taxable and would provide a credit of $2,500/$5,000 which is more than enough to compensate for the difference in taxes. The reporter is right and Obama is WRONG and is purposefully deceiving. So, please stop the undeserved bashing. (By the way, I never voted for a Republican. But, if Obama keeps up with populist half truths like this I will switch sides. I am starting to believe he may be the type of a guy who will pee in your eyes and tell you it is raining.)

[ok4obama]

I am a mother who pays for her own healthcare insurance. I am married with two children who pays 402.00 per month. Now under McCain''s plan my premiums are covered. For that amount, I get a $5000 deductible BEFORE my insurance covers 80% of the bills. I have no prescription discounts, that amounts works toward my
deduction of $5000 per year. My children have one wellness checkup each year and my co-pay is $15.00 per visit. Within the last two years I have paid a total of $7500, still beneath my insurance deductible. I say all of this because insurance costs have gone up and it''s not the premiums. Employer insurance is a benefit to its workers because you are able to use the amount of employee''s to lower monthly payments for everyone and the benefit to employer''s are the tax breaks. I don''t have to explain the results of McCain''s plan for employers and you. I don''t believe the insurance I''m paying for is worth the money and think that $5000 just doesn''t cover it. Why don''t I have cheaper insurance? Pre-existing conditions.

[benighse]

MCCAIN ALSO SAYS THE ECONOMY IS HEALTHY AND STRONG RIGHT NOW---MAYBE HIS $100 MILLION MAKES IT FEEL THAT WAY FOR HIM AND HIS WIFE---BUT ASK FREDDIE MAC AND FANNIE MAE AND BEAR STEEARNS AND LEHMAN BROTHERS AND THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY AND THE BAKING INDUSTRY AND THE HOUSING INDUSTRY----BUT BETTER YET ASK ALL THE FAMILIES WHO NOW ARE LIVING WITH THIS REPUBLICAN COLLAPSE----AND YOU WANT FOUR MORE YEARS OF THIS NONSENSE----REMEMBER 8 YEARS AGO WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS REALLY STRONG WITH A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITEHOUSE?? REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD SURPLUSSES WITH A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITEHOUSE?? OBAMA/BIDEN ''08---IT''S THE VOTE WORTH MAKING FOR THE BEST PROSPECTS FOR AMERICA. LET''S GET TO WORK AND PUT OBAMA/BIDEN TO WORK.

[danthrax1]

Boy, you CBS guys can''t get a break. You fact-check using nonpartisan groups and still get bashed. Well, good job despite the noise.

Let me clarify. You never endorsed McCain''s plan for healthcare. You simply showed that it does not amount to a tax increase. Obama may call it a bad plan, but it is inaccurate for him to call it a tax increase.

Most of the readers who left comments seem to think that the tax rebate McCain proposes represents 100% of what a family would have to spend on medical premiums. Understand this, readers: that''s the TAX part. If your premiums paid by your employer are $10,000 per year, and McCain taxes it at 35%, that''s a tax of $3,500, which he proposes offsetting with a $5,000 tax credit. So if you pay $3,500 and get back $5,000, you understand that''s not a tax increase, right?

But McCain''s plan is that the whole amount--including the $10,000--would be made available for you to shop for any insurance you want.

You may not like that plan, but at least find out what you''re ranting against before you rant.

[ok4obama]

I am a mother who pays for her own healthcare insurance. I am married with two children who pays 402.00 per month. Now under McCain''s plan my premiums are covered. For that amount, I get a $5000 deductible BEFORE my insurance covers 80% of the bills. I have no prescription discounts, that amounts works toward my
deduction of $5000 per year. My children have one wellness checkup each year and my co-pay is $15.00 per visit. Within the last two years I have paid a total of $7500, still beneath my insurance deductible. I say all of this because insurance costs have gone up and it''s not the premiums. Employer insurance is a benefit to its workers because you are able to use the amount of employee''s to lower monthly payments for everyone and the benefit to employer''s are the tax breaks. I don''t have to explain the results of McCain''s plan for employers and you. I don''t believe the insurance I''m paying for is worth the money and think that $5000 just doesn''t cover it. Why don''t I have cheaper insurance? Pre-existing conditions.