McCain Unveils Health Care Plan

(CBS)

John McCain outlined more of his health care plan today, explaining that his tax incentives will help drop costs and his plans for treating chronic diseases. "Health care in America should be affordable by all, not just the wealthy," McCain said at the University of South Florida's Moffitt Cancer Center. "It should be available to all, and not limited by where you work or how much you make. It should be fair to all; providing help where the need is greatest, and protecting Americans from corporate abuses. And for all the strengths of our health-care system, we know that right now it falls short of this ideal."

McCain criticized a national government health care system, such as those proposed by his Democratic rivals, saying it will generate more of the same issues that exist now. "We'll have all the problems, and more, of private health care -- rigid rules, long waits and lack of choices, and risk degrading its great strengths and advantages including the innovation and life-saving technology that make American medicine the most advanced in the world," he said.

McCain said he supports health savings accounts, which are tax preferred accounts used to pay insurance premiums and other health costs. He claimed they put the family in charge of what they pay for and vowed to expand these accounts to more families.

The Republican presidential hopeful said his tax credit proposal would force lower costs. "The value of that credit -- 2,500 dollars for individuals, 5,000 dollars for families -- would also be enhanced by the greater competition this reform would help create among insurance companies," he said. "It would help change the whole dynamic of the current system, putting individuals and families back in charge, and forcing companies to respond with better service at lower cost."

Elizabeth Edwards, among others, have criticized McCain's plan, saying it wouldn't cover patients with pre-existing conditions. "Those with pre-existing conditions do have the most difficulty on the individual market, and we need to make sure they get the high-quality coverage they need," McCain said. "I will work tirelessly to address the problem. But I won't create another entitlement program that Washington will let get out of control. I won't do it."

McCain also discussed five chronic conditions and how he wants to change how they are treated including for the aging population. "Cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma account for three-quarters of the nation's annual health-care bill," he said. "We need to change the way providers are paid to focus their attention more on chronic disease and managing their treatment. This is the most important care for an aging population."