WP: (Kerry and Bush) Health Plans Differ in Scope And Philosophy

[DeepModem Mom]

Health Plans Differ in Scope And Philosophy
Kerry Transfers More Costs to Taxpayer, Bush to Individual

By Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 22, 2004; Page A06


The health care debate in this year's presidential contest has been largely boiled down to an argument over degree: Democrat John F. Kerry proposes an ambitious, costly expansion of health coverage, while President Bush takes a far more modest approach.

In terms of cost and number of newly insured people, the shorthand is accurate. But from a philosophical perspective, Bush is proposing a 180-degree shift away from the current employer-based system and toward individual coverage....

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Kerry, after convening a team of experts more than 18 months ago, devised a plan that builds on the current public-private insurance system. Though cost estimates on the 10-year proposal vary from $653 billion to $1.3 trillion, analysts agree that the plan would cover about 26 million more Americans.

Bush, largely drawing on ideas he introduced in the 2000 campaign, offers tax credits and new purchasing pools to help individuals and small businesses buy coverage. The costs would be significantly less: $90 billion to $200 billion over a decade. But the question of how many people would be covered is hotly debated; estimates range from 2 million to the campaign's claim of 17 million....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52678-2004Oct21.html

[whistle]

1. Kerry's plan makes sense giving at least 26 million people who...

...are not covered now with any type of health insurance an opportunity to receive health care and equal health care plan opportunities for millions more, plus accountability and a cap and control on rising health care costs. Bush's plan is more of the same, tax breaks for the rich, marginal health care, exploding health care costs big profits for the insurance companies and health delivery system. It's time all Americans have affordable health care.