Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

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2008 Elections

Republicans on Health Care

 

John McCain (has secured nomination)
He believes that insurance reforms should increase the variety and affordability of insurance coverage available to American families by fostering competition and innovation. He also sants to reform the tax code to end bias toward employer-sponsored health insurance, provide all individuals with a $2,500 tax credit ($5,000 for families) to increase incentives to get insurance. He supports buying health insurance across state lines. He supports insurance plans that are portable. He also supports allowing people to get their insurance not only through employers, but througan any organization or association they choose. Such plans would have to meet rigorous standards and certification. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Ron Paul
Paul rejects the “corporate medicine” that mandates our health care today. A mixture of government involvement with a corporate-run system introduced in the 1970s pushed the price of health care higher and over the years has obliterated the doctor-patient relationship. But giving the government even more control through socialized medicine, Paul says is not the answer. Instead, Paul suggests moving in the direction of a free market system through the implementation of health savings accounts, which would let people put money aside for their medical needs and get a tax credit for doing so. Health savings accounts would then give the patient more control to pick their own doctors and decide what type of medicine they want attending to their health. This program could be transitioned so not to disenfranchise the people on programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and S-Chip. But Paul encourages young people to opt out of the current system and start taking responsibility for their own health care.. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Rudy Giuliani (dropped out)
The problem with our health care insurance is it’s dominated by government and employers. If 100 million people were seeking out their own private health insurance plans, it would be affordable because free market principles would be at work. A major tax deduction of $15,000 to set up a health savings account would give people an incentive to own their own private health insurance. . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Mike Huckabee (dropped out)
He says the system is broken because it emphasizes health care over health. The U.S. doesn’t needed federally mandated universal health care, but the country does need to get serious about preventive health care. Policies should encourage the private sector to bring down costs, with the states serving as test sites to develop market-based approaches, he says. We should move from employer-based health care to consumer-based health care. Health care coverage should be portable, moving with the person from job to job.. . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Duncan Hunter (dropped out)
Health care should be reformed so that consumers are in control. They should have the freedom to buy health care across state lines, have the freedom to make their own informed health care choices and have the freedom to innovate to save money and improve medical outcomes. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Mitt Romney (dropped out)
Mitt Romney’s vision of extending health care to everyone is one in which states implement programs for health care as opposed to a federally mandated health care system or raising taxes. Romney believes that through providing primary care to people, larger, more expensive health care problems can be avoided. As he did in his own state of Massachusetts when he was governor from 2002-2006, Romney would implement market reforms that would drive down health care costs. According to Romney, the costs would fluctuate depending upon each state’s planned proposal. As incentive, Romney’s health care plan would allow those that purchase their own health insurance to deduct premiums, deductibles and co-payments form their income. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Tom Tancredo (dropped out)
The federal government should not be responsible for womb-to-womb health care in America, rather, individuals should be responsible for their own health care. And he believes health savings accounts will enable Americans to do this. Additionally, health savings accounts will put individuals in direct connection with their doctor, with no one in between. Tancredo supports Americans accessing the most affordable prescription drugs, even if it means buying them from Canada. Tancredo says that illegal immigrants are costing the system. For legal residents employed by businesses that can’t afford health care, he favors plans that band small businesses together to access lower-cost insurance. For those not working, state governments should provide relief, although he would not rule out federal incentives or limited subsidies to make sure families are not without coverage. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Fred Thompson (dropped out)
Americans have the best health care in the world. Some, however, choose not be insured; others cannot afford it. Every American should be able to get health insurance coverage that is affordable, fully accessible and portable. Coverage should meet each person’s individual needs and put them in control. Those who propose a one-size-fits-all ,Washington-controlled program ignore the cost, inefficiency and inadequate care that such a system offers. Access to affordable, portable health care can be made available for all Americans without imposing new mandates or raising taxes. Current government programs must also be streamlined and improved so that those who truly need help can get the health care they need. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

— Las Vegas Sun new media managing editor Dave Toplikar and intern Jenna Kohler compiled this report.

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