A few weeks ago, I read and wrote about an excellent commentary by Bob Herbert on John McCain’s healthcare plan. That post really didn’t generate many hits here. Maybe everyone who lands on this blog already knows the facts. But judging from the hits it got (compared with the Tucker Bounds post), people just haven’t been thinking about the truly fundamental and frightening changes that John McCain wants to make to our healthcare system. I don’t see how any American who has every struggled to get coverage could vote for the McCain ticket after even the most cursory study of the McCain healthcare plan. I’m going to offer a few simply points – the cliffs’ notes to my previous post – in hopes that you, dear readers, will please pass them on to friends and family who haven’t really given this life-and-death campaign issue the attention it deserves.
1) John McCain will tax your employer’s contribution toward your health benefits — and that contribution will now count as income. You could call that an “income tax increase” and the death knell for employer-assisted healthcare coverage.
2) In last night’s townhall debate, Senator McCain promised voters a $5,000 tax credit for their healthcare coverage if they don’t have employer-provided coverage. Of course, he didn’t mention that the check doesn’t go to you–it goes straight to the insurance provider. And, of course, you only get $5,000 if you are a family (at least three of you). If you’re just you, you get $2,500 toward your healthcare premium. If you are 25 years old and have no pre-existing conditions, you’ll be alright. If you’re not, and you do, you are going to be paying more money for health insurance than you were before.
3) McCain also thinks you should be free to get health insurance in any state you want. Competition is good. Of course, there’s always the possibility that insurance companies will just set up in the states with that have fewer requirements. Again, it’s not really of concern to a healthy 25-year old to get annual mammogram exams or prostate cancer screenings. And folks just need to steer clear of contracting or falling victim to pre-existing conditions. I find that just avoiding treatment keeps the insurance companies in the dark until I really, really need them to step up to the plate.
Does any of that make you feel safer?
Quick additional rhetorical question: Do you believe healthcare coverage is a basic human right? Yes? Well one of the candidates for president agreed with you last night that healthcare is a right . . . but it wasn’t this one.
Inform Your Consent 