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Republican presidential candidate John McCain says he thinks affordable health care can be made available to all Americans without a mandated universal system. The Arizona senator said on ABC's "This week With George Stephanopoulos" that he doesn't think government-run systems such as those in Canada and in Europe will succeed in the United States. "I think it's a warmed-over proposal that we rejected back in the early 1990s and I'm certainly not interested in raising people's taxes, as many of the Democrats are interested in doing. I'm absolutely opposed to that," McCain said, adding he also is opposed to requiring everyone to buy health insurance coverage. "We've got to make health care affordable and available. There's plenty of ways to do that." He said he's been working on a plan "for a long time" but "it's a very tough issue." One way, he said, would be to expand community health centers and the S-chip program, offer tax incentives for poor people, put health care online, medical malpractice reform and promote health savings accounts. However, he said, one problem getting everyone covered "is there's a lot of healthy Americans that say I just don't want health insurance."
"McCain sees room," United Press International. Jun 10, 2007 (article)
"The 'solution,' my friends, isn't a one-size-fits-all-big government takeover of health care. It resides where every important social advance has always resided - with the American people themselves, with well informed American families, making practical decisions to address their imperatives for better health and more secure prosperity."
"I propose that we try a time-honored approach and let the states work on whatever method they find most promising. The federal government can help fund this effort, but in exchange, states should allow Medicaid and SCHIP funds to be used for private insurance and develop methods to augment Medicaid and tax credits for more expensive care."
"I want to preserve the quality of health care, I want to make it affordable and I want to make it available. I want to give everybody in this room, every family in this room a $5,000 refundable tax credit. And you can take that across state lines and go anyplace in America you want to and get a health insurance policy. And if you got any money left over, then you 'ought to be able to invest in a health savings account."
McCain says he thinks affordable health care can be made available to all Americans without a mandated universal system. The Arizona senator said on ABC's "This week With George Stephanopoulos" that he doesn't think government-run systems such as those in Canada and in Europe will succeed in the United States. "I think it's a warmed-over proposal that we rejected back in the early 1990s and I'm certainly not interested in raising people's taxes," McCain said, adding he also is opposed to requiring everyone to buy health insurance coverage. "We've got to make health care affordable and available. There's plenty of ways to do that."
"We should have a Wal-mart or another large place that has a walk-in clinic. It has a physician and it has a pharmacist, and a pharmacy right there. And you're sick and don't feel well -- you've got a bad cold -- go to that clinic. The doctor prescribes and the pharmacist provides."
John McCain would deregulate insurance markets, allowing insurers to sell across state lines. People could buy less costly, less comprehensive policies in states with fewer mandates.
"Protect the health care consumer through vigorous enforcement of federal protections against collusion, unfair business actions, and deceptive consumer practices."
"[We have] 11 million children without health insurance. We've got to expand the children's health insurance program. And I'll tell you what: I have the guts to take the money where it shouldn't be spent in Washington and put it where it should be spent, including 10 percent of the surplus."
Des Moines Iowa GOP Debate Dec 13, 1999
Voted NO on the State Children's Health Insurance Program. HR 976: A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program
His [McCain] health proposal centers on a plan to offer tax credits to individuals and their families so that more people will buy health insurance on their own, instead of through their employers.
McCain supports the following principles regarding healthcare: - A Patient's Bill of Rights, including appeal mechanisms when claims are denied, & the right to sue when claims are denied. - Expanded eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts - Tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
Source: National Political Awareness Test (NPAT) Nov 7, 2004
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.
Reference: Santorum Amdt #1234; Bill S. 1344 ; vote number 1999-202 on Jul 13, 1999
"Reform the tax code to eliminate the bias toward employer-sponsored health insurance, and provide all individuals with a $2,500 tax credit ($5,000 for families) to increase incentives for insurance coverage. Individuals owning innovative multi-year policies that cost less than the full credit can deposit remainder in expanded health savings accounts."
"Americans need new choices beyond those offered in employment-based coverage. Americans want a system built so that wherever you go and wherever you work, your health plan is goes with you."
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. Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)53; N)47
Reference: Santorum Amdt #1234; Bill S. 1344 ; vote number 1999-202 on Jul 13, 1999
McCain adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item: H.R. 1181 the Health Insurance Affordability and Equity Act With 40 million Americans currently living without health insurance, Republican Main Street Partnership members have been leading the effort to find new and innovative ways to secure health care for our citizens. Easing the burden on businesses entering into insurance purchasing pools, and expanding the use of medical savings accounts (MSAs) have been included in previous economic stimulus packages.
Republican Main Street Partnership Legislative Agenda 02-RMSP4 on May 24, 2002