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Fred Thompson on Health Care

Possibly the largest domestic issue in 2008, health care is a problem that is universally recognized and answered with a diversity of prescriptions from the candidates. Private versus government funded health care and the definition of "universal" care split the candidates across their respective policies. This topic includes information about candidate positions on: universal health care, privatization of health care, government support for health care through tax incentives, and employer assistance in obtaining health care.

The issues

Fred Thompson opposes universal health care which provides access to health care regardless of ability to pay

Every American should be able to get health insurance coverage that is affordable, fully accessible, and portable. Coverage should meet their 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.

Campaign website, www.Fred08.com, "Issues" Sep 20, 2007

The poorest Americans are getting far better service than that. And there's nothing about Americans that would make us any better able to run a government health care bureaucracy than the Canadians or the British. In fact, we've got less practice at that sort of thing than they do -- and we might be a lot worse at it.

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"The best way to improve the best health care you can get in the world--which is what we get here in the United States--is to expand choice."

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Fred Thompson opposes increased government spending on health care

Someone has to decide what costs are worth the money. It can be the government, the insurance company or it can be you. I think it is best if you, yourself decide what is best for you and your family, with insurance that doesn't have to depend on your employment--coverage that you can take with you if you change jobs; insurance that you may purchase from anywhere in the nation for the best value. This would be market driven and would make health insurance affordable for more Americans.

Candidacy announcement speech Sep 6, 2007

Fred Thompson supports a market-based, for-profit approach to providing more Americans with health care

Americans have the best healthcare in the world. Some, however, choose not be insured; others cannot afford it. Current government programs must be streamlined and improved so that those who truly need help can get the health care they need. I am committed to a healthcare system that: - Creates a system around individual patients by providing more information and more opportunities to choose affordable health care options that best meet their needs and those of their families. - Shifts to a system that promotes cost-effective prevention, chronic-care management, and personal responsibility. - Modernizes delivery and administration of care by encouraging the widespread use of clinical best practices and medical information technology. - Increases competition and consumer choice while streamlining regulations through free-market solutions that benefit individuals and reduce costs for employers. - Promotes and speeds medical research and life-sciences innovation.

Campaign website, www.Fred08.com, "Issues" Sep 20, 2007

Someone has to decide what costs are worth the money. It can be the government, the insurance company or it can be you. I think it is best if you, yourself decide what is best for you and your family, with insurance that doesn't have to depend on your employment--coverage that you can take with you if you change jobs; insurance that you may purchase from anywhere in the nation for the best value. This would be market driven and would make health insurance affordable for more Americans.

Candidacy announcement speech Sep 6, 2007

"I am committed to a healthcare system that: increases competition and consumer choice while streamlining regulations through free-market solutions that benefit individuals and reduce costs for employers."

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Fred Thompson is neutral on taxpayer-financed health care for all children under the age of 18

"Certainly children's health care insurance needs to be expanded and it can be done in different ways," Thompson says. "The president himself proposes a way to be done through the tax code." Thompson, like Bush, says some parents would opt to dump their private insurance in order to get the government-paid coverage for their kids. "People who, you know, would be in the $80,000 - $90,000 family income range -- possibly eligible for the alternative-minimum tax which was originally designed to hit rich people -- would be eligible to get a check for their children," Thompson says.

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Fred Thompson opposes addressing the healthcare shortage primarily through providing tax deductions and incentives for the uninsured to purchase private health insurance

Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction. The Santorum (R-PA) amdt would effectively kill the Kennedy Amdt (D-MA) which would have allowed self-employed individuals to fully deduct the cost of their health insurance on their federal taxes.

Santorum Amdt #1234; Bill S. 1344 ; vote number 1999-202 on Jul 13, 1999

Voted NO on medical savings accounts. Vote to block a plan which would allow tax-deductible medical savings accounts.

Kassebaum Amdt #3677; Bill S. 1028 ; vote number 1996-72 on Apr 18, 1996

Fred Thompson strongly opposes requiring American employers to cover a significant portion of the health care costs of their employees

Someone has to decide what costs are worth the money. It can be the government, the insurance company or it can be you. I think it is best if you, yourself decide what is best for you and your family, with insurance that doesn't have to depend on your employment--coverage that you can take with you if you change jobs; insurance that you may purchase from anywhere in the nation for the best value. This would be market driven and would make health insurance affordable for more Americans.

Candidacy announcement speech Sep 6, 2007