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Poll Reveals Voter Confusion Over Obama's, McCain's Healthcare Plans

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hd drive laptops in australia of AL 10:55PM May 19, 2010

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of MI 7:05PM November 01, 2008

He wants to tax your health care plan, get rid of employer-based insurance which most people have. Thanks but not thanks! This video sums it up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8VsGH4e5wc

Amelia of MA 10:31AM October 31, 2008

The McCain plan would re-write the tax code so that americans would be able to take 2500/single or 5,000/family directly off taxable income when income taxes are filed. Obama's plan would increase entitlement spending first through the SCHIP (State child health insurance plan) which is Medicaid by increasing the income threshold under which the benefit would be given (currently families of 4 making 50,000 or less are eligible for this plan) I'm not sure what the income level would be increased to. President Bush vetoed the increase in income threshold for SCHIP last year. The Obama plan would have to be paid for through taxes since the federal government pays for 25% of Medicaid, individuals pay through payroll taxes, and states and municipalities pay through property taxes. Medicaid is one of the fastest growing budgets for municipalities (in New York anyway). I do not think his (Obama's)employer based plan has quite jelled yet--at least it does not seem quite clear to me. It looks as though both plans will provide some kind of federally regulated health purchasing co-operative to provide cheaper rates for employers and individuals, similar to what has been done in Massachusetts. A revamp will not be an easy task especially with federal entitlements and the way in which legislation is written and passed. Personally I wish we had let Hillary Clinton do this in the early 1990's--as a healthcare policy specialist I thought she was on the right track, however we are stuck right now and with this terrible economy I wonder if anything will be accomplished by either of the presidential nominee's administrations.

New York of NY 10:03PM October 06, 2008

Remember,
you MUST take one of the candidates who forced you to pay for the Wall Street bailout.
Deal?
"The two parties should be
almost identical, so that
the American people can
'throw the rascals out'
at any election without
leading to any profound or
extensive shifts in policy."
-Carol Quigley

ryanshaunkelly of IL 4:06PM October 06, 2008

Health Care Insurance for Americans is a very important topic for everyone. It seems the more the so called upper class smarties try to fix something they mess it up worse than it was to start with. Every year the health rates go up and as Americans who have health care benefits we have to bite the bullet and go along with the cost. Enough is enough...leave it alone. Control the cost Americans are having to put out of pocket with the ever increasing rates whould be a better starting place than trying to make a better plan that is nothing but a worse plan for everyone but the rich. Americans are feed up with all the messing up and poor thought out plans we have heard. Try controlling cost so Americans can see a Doctor if they get sick. I have a plan and can't afford to see a doctor when I am sick because of the high deductibles. Want to go but can't afford to go for all the taxes and other thngs in life that need to come first before my own health care. It is a sin what oure so called experts have done or allowed to happen to all Ameicans who need health care. Hope you can sleep at night. Regulating cost for Doctors and what they should be able to charge for certain services would be a good starting point. But we have to consider the paychecks for our doctors they are up up and away. Too much! They concern for the patient has gone out the door. Even for our State hospitals.

of VA 8:53PM October 05, 2008

McCain's plan calls for taxing the employer provided health care premiums. This is the taxing of an employer fringe benefit which will be added to the W-2 Income as per all employer fringe benefits that are taxed. Along with this for the employee, comes and increase of 7.65% in fica and medicare tax. To that, add the additional increase in state income tax. Someone in a 28% income tax bracket that lives in a state that taxes at 4% would see their benefit taxed at 39.45%. The tax credit of $,2500 per individual or $5,000 for families does not come back to the taxpayer to offset this increase, but is sent to the insurance company.
For the employer comes an addition 7.65% increase for the employers share of the fica and medicare tax. Also, worker's comp increase since most worker's comp premiums are based on the w-2 wages of employees.
This plan is a tax increase on business.

Helen of OK 4:05PM October 05, 2008

I am young (under 35), have group insurance through my employer but have a pre-existing condition. Under McCain's plan I would face a hefty tax increase on my benefits should my employer decide to keep the group health care insurance - that's the best case scenario. If my employer decides to drop its group health insurance coverage, given my pre-existing condition I would not be able to get even a bare bones individual policy at under $25,000 a year. I would be forced to quit my job, apply for Social Security Disability Insurance so I could eventually get Medicare. Thanks McCain.

Scared in NJ of NJ 12:02PM October 05, 2008

Our economy is in shambles and our financial future is uncertain. Senator McCain, if elected president, plans to put our health care at the same risk. Last month, McCain wrote an article in Contingencies Magazine stating he would deregulate the health care industry by, "Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking". Well, we've seen how well that has worked for us. Regulation in health care protects the patient from profit seeking at the detriment of the consumer. We currently have numerous problems centered around health insurance in our country, but I urge you, before voting, to look in depth at both candidate's proposals for the future of our health care system, lest we wind up with something worse than we have now.
I am a registered nurse and have worked as such for 15 years. I currently work as a nurse case manager. I routinely assist patients in trying to find financial solutions to their health care needs. It isn't easy. I see how critical health insurance is; how it is often the defining issue between life and death. Many times we take it for granted...unless we don't have it.
I am also a patient that lives with chronic illness and worries about being "covered" and the reality that I have many "pre-existing conditions". I have been fortunate that I have always had a job and benefited from group insurance where pre-existing conditions are not excluded. I live in fear that I will lose my job and coverage. Now, I live in fear that John McCain will become president and my company will no longer have to provide health insurance.
Under Senator McCain's plan, I would be given a $5,000 tax credit to purchase insurance for me and my family. HA! I would never be able to get anyone to cover me with my pre-existing conditions. Basically, I would be out of luck, despite Senator McCain's lame attempt at a "guaranteed access plan". However, even if I could find coverage, it would cost far more than $5,000! My employer paid $18,000 last year for health insurance for me and my family! So, best case scenario, I would be out $13,000 more than I pay currently (the difference between total cost of the insurance-$18,000 and the tax credit, $5,000.) Money which, of course, I don't have.
Even the other option with McCain's plan will end up costing me thousands of dollars in taxes. McCain's health care plan intends to end the tax exemption of employer payed health benefits. Therefore, if I were so lucky that my employer didn't stop offering health insurance at all, I would still be stuck with McCain raising my taxes, by taxing the health benefits I receive. For me, it would be additional taxable income of $18,000 per year.
This is my own situation and of course, it concerns me. However, as a nurse, I am immensely concerned for my patients as well. At this time, with our economy in the basement, we cannot afford another hit! Our health care cannot afford John McCain!

Lorrie of CA 9:50PM October 04, 2008

The political bickering is planned to distract from our thinking about capability to analyze and communicate, to have this capability to analyze and communicate result in good judgment in choosing advisors and in coordinating the best ideas for America, not just the simplistic ideas. The simplistic distractions are planned to keep voters from thinking about how much poor judgment (Like Keating Five and the last eight years of agreeing with the administration on war and deregulation) costs Americans in resources and in life and limb.
The special interests and lobby group want to buy government decisions on the cheap and take advantage of Americans without having to deal with the complex results that might cripple our nation. They get people from the top of their class to represent them and manipulate to take advantage. We are too lax about the possibility that we might be represented by those from the bottom of their class and that we might be making it easy for the special interest lobby group to take advantage of us. Again!!!
Having effective and timely studies by our government led by those from the top of their class has been lacking at great cost to us all. We have lost planes due to neglect in the timely study of flight manuals. We have lost lives and livelihood due to neglect in the timely study of intelligence information. We have lost a solid economy due to neglect in the timely study of needed regulations and deregulations. We have lost our standing in the world due to neglect in the timely study of diplomacy and when and how to successfully use it.
It is time to replace the simplistic attitudes and ideas useful in manipulation with a stronger understanding of ideas useful in doing the strong work needed to get us back on track. This needs to be led by a dedicated president from the top of his class, rather than by the special interest lobby group who are carefully selected and paid to take advantage of America.
Again!!! Let's be careful in rebuilding our countries capabilities.

Michael Steib of TX 7:55PM October 04, 2008