Overview of Presidential Candidate Positions

Overview of Presidential Candidate Positions AMSA 2007 Universal Healthcare Leadership Institute Flávio Casoy Democrats agree that:  Presidential Candidates’ Views on Healthcare Republicans agree that:  A market-driven, consumer-based, not public, healthcare system is the most effective IV. Elections 2008    Individuals should not be denied health insurance based on preexisting health conditions Funding for preventive medicine is necessary The DHHS should have the right to negotiate prices for prescription drugs in Medicare The use of electronic medical records is essential in reducing the cost of healthcare  The use of electronic medical records is essential in reducing the cost of healthcare Hillary Clinton (D) Hillary Clinton (D)  Proposes offering people the choice of:   Keeping existing plans, or Buying into a plan on the Health Choices Menu (which would include one Medicare-like option)    Supports individual mandates Supports income-related tax credits to limit premiums to a percentage of one’s income Proposes providing a tax credit to large employers who suffer financial hardships as a result of providing healthcare coverage Hillary Clinton (cont’d)     Plans to mandate that large employers must offer coverage Would offer tax credits to small employers to offer coverage Proposes expanding Medicaid and S-CHIP Supports minimum stop-loss ratios for insurance companies John Edwards (D) John Edwards (D)  Envisions the public and private sectors competing and a possible single-payer approach if individuals and businesses prefer the public health plan Supports an individual mandate and an employer mandate to purchase coverage Proposes the creation of regional Health Care Markets    It would include many private plans and at least one Medicare-like plan John Edwards (cont’d)   Proposes Insurance Tax Credits Plans on expanding Medicaid and SCHIP to serve:   All adults under the poverty line All children and parents under 250 percent of the poverty line   Supports expanding Medicaid to cover people with HIV in every state Supports restricting direct-to-consumer advertisement of recently released prescription drugs Healthcare Reform Proposals Hillary Clinton vs. John Edwards Basics Edward’s Plan    Clinton’s Plan    Individual Mandate Employer Mandate Tax Credits    Individual Mandate Employer Mandate Tax Credits    Refundable Income-based Given to those who purchase a plan  Refundable Income-based Given to those who purchase a plan Offered to small businesses Pooling Proposals Edward’s Plan  Clinton’s Plan  Regional Health Care Markets  Health Choices Menu  Offers plans from private companies  Offers Plans from private companies  An economy of scale principle would create low premiums Large purchasing power would create low premiums   Offers plans from at least one public program  Offers plans from public programs  Modeled on Medicare Based upon Medicare  Allows states to band together and create regional markets Details Edward’s Plan  Clinton’s Plan  Favor expanding Medicaid and S-CHIP Require all insurers to charge fair premiums to everybody regardless of “preexisting conditions” Require all insurers on Health Care Market to offer preventive services “at little or no cost” Favor expanding Medicaid and S-CHIP Require all insurers to charge reasonable premiums to anyone regardless of “if they are sick or an insurer fears they will be” Requires all insurers on Health Choices Plan to cover preventive services     Differences Edward’s Plan  Clinton’s Plan  Proposes creating a non-profit or public organization to research data from Health Care Markets and Medicare Proposes to restrict direct-toconsumer advertising for newly introduced drugs Stated that Bush tax cuts would be repealed to pay for his proposal Offer tax credits to large employers with “catastrophic expenditures” on Healthcare   Temporarily for baby boom generation   Stipulates Stop-Loss Ratios Offers details on how to pay for her proposal  Barack Obama (D) Barack Obama (D)  Supports regulation of the private health insurance industry Proposes a National Health Insurance Exchange which will regulate the private insurance industry and offer a variety of healthcare plans for individuals to choose from Plans to lower healthcare costs by increasing competition in the insurance and drug markets   Barack Obama (cont’d)  Requires that employers who do not contribute toward their employees’ health insurance must contribute a percentage of the payroll toward the national health plan Proposes an individual mandate for healthcare coverage for children Supports expansion of Medicaid and S-CHIP   Joe Biden (D) Joe Biden (D) In his Four Step Healthcare Plan, he proposes to improve healthcare by: 1) Reducing the cost of healthcare    2) Covering all children    Improved management of chronic diseases by establishing a Comparative Effectiveness Panel Plans to train and put 100,000 new nurses into the workforce Supports the creation of a Public Health Workforce Scholarship Program Expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to at least 300 percent of the federal poverty level Allowing all families to buy into SCHIP with sliding scale premiums and co-payments based on family income Extending coverage to at least age 21 Joe Biden (cont’d) 3) Lowering Healthcare Costs for Employers and Provide Catastrophic Coverage  Establish a federal reinsurance pool to reimburse employers, insurers or associations for 75 percent of catastrophic health costs for active and retired employees and their families. Allow insurers that offer individual policies to access the reinsurance pool Protect against genetic discrimination 4) Encouraging Reform in the Insurance Industry   Christopher Dodd (D) Chris Dodd (D)  Proposes establishment of a Universal HealthMart    Individuals and businesses can choose from a variety of health coverage options For those who cannot afford insurance, the government will subsidize their premium share on a sliding scale based on income Automatic enrollment in this program will ensure universal coverage  Does not address expansion of federal or statefunded programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, or S-CHIP Mike Gravel (D) Mike Gravel (D)  Supports an individual mandate to purchase coverage, but not an employer mandate Proposes a federal voucher system to aid individuals to pay for insurance Proposes to end subsidization of the insurance companies Plans to phase out public programs, including Medicare and Medicaid     Eventually allowing the private insurance industry to be the only payer Dennis Kucinich (D) Dennis Kucinich (D)  The only candidate who supports quality, affordable healthcare for all, through a single, public national health insurance system Proposes removing the profit incentive from healthcare financing Supports a federally-funded program that covers all necessary medical, dental, and mental service for everyone living in the United States.   Bill Richardson (D) Bill Richardson (D)    Supports an individual mandate Supports an employer mandate Proposes a sliding-scale tax credit to make insurance more affordable Plans to place cost controls on insurance companies  Bill Richardson (cont’d)  Plans to expand Medicare eligibility requirements by including adults 55 and over Supports the formation of integrated health teams that include primary care and mental health providers to improve mental health services Plans to limit overpayments to private Medicare Advantage Plans   Rudy Giuliani (R) Rudy Giuliani (R)      Proposes strengthening the private health insurance industry Proposes a Tax Code Reform to make insurance more affordable Does not prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing health conditions Proposes a Health Insurance Credit to lowincome Americans, which can be coupled with Medicaid and employer contributions Does not support the expansion of Medicaid, Medicare, or S-CHIP Mitt Romney (R) Mitt Romney (R)  Emphasizes deregulation and reform of the private insurance industry Supports the full deductibility of qualified medical expenses Plans to give states more responsibility and control over their Medicaid programs Plans to reform the tax code and expand HSAs Has not stated whether he supports an individual mandate     Sam Brownback (R) Sam Brownback (R)  Does not support expansion of Medicare, Medicaid or S-CHIP Has not addressed regulating the insurance industry Believes that individuals should be allowed to purchase coverage across state lines Has not given a specified plan regarding the steps necessary to improve access to healthcare    Mike Huckabee (R) Mike Huckabee (R)  Plans to strengthen the private health insurance industry, while making it more affordable, by:   making health insurance tax deductible for families giving low-income families tax credits instead of deductions   Does not support federal regulation of the insurance industry Does not address expansion of Medicare, Medicaid, or S-CHIP John McCain (R) John McCain (R)  Has not yet released a healthcare plan In Senate, voted against expanding SCHIP   “It will further erode private health coverage for children.” Ron Paul (R) Ron Paul (R)  Has not yet released a healthcare plan In House, recently introduced bill to offer refundable tax credits for 100% of medical costs In House, voted against expanding S-CHIP   Tom Tancredo (R) Tom Tancredo (R)  Proposes using Association Health Plans   Allow small business owners to pool together to purchase insurance at reduced rates AHPs would improve access to affordable healthcare   Does not address the expansion of Medicare, Medicaid, or S-CHIP Does not support federal regulation of the insurance industry Sources www.joebiden.com www.hillaryclinton.com www.chrisdodd.com www.johnedwards.com www.gravel2008.us www.dennis4president.com www.barackobama.com www.richardsonforpresident.com www.brownback.com www.joinrudy2008.com www.mikehuckabee.com www.johnmccain.com www.ronpaul2008.com www.mittromney.com www.teamtancredo.com Awesome AMSA tools:  Platform Grid PowerPoint presentations  