Compare Obama Health Plan vs McCain Health Plan

Now that the election is getting close, I want to discuss one of the issues I care about a lot, and that is the plans for reforming US health care. After all, aren't we still the country with almost 50 million uninsured citizens (not to mention the 100 million with our a dental benefit!). This is a problem, and I'd like to address the Obama vs. McCain stand on Health Care. (Of course, I still miss you Hillary, and think things will just be so damn boring without you!).

Barack Obama’s plan for better health care in America is to provide quality, affordable and portable coverage for all. He plans to make available a new national health plan to all U.S. citizens, which will include the self-employed and small businesses. Some of the features his plan include:


Guaranteed Eligibility. This will allow sick people (with recent and pre-existing conditions) to obtain health care.
Comprehensive Benefits. This is similar to the package offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. It will cover all necessary medical services, which include preventive, maternity and mental health care.
Affordability. There will be lower premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
Simpler paperwork and reined in health costs.
Public Plan with simple enrollment and ready access to coverage.
Portability and Choice. People enrolled in the new public plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange (another Obama plan) will be able to move from job to job without jeopardizing insurance coverage.
Quality and Efficiency. The health insurance companies participating in the new plan will be required to report data to ensure that standards for quality are met.

John McCain intends to increase the variety and affordability of health insurance to families in America by fostering innovation and competition.

This is how he plans to do so:

By reforming tax code to eliminate the bias toward employer-sponsored health coverage and providing everyone with a $2,500 tax credit; families will receive $5,000. This will increase incentives for health care coverage.
Allowing families to purchase health care insurance nationwide to maximize choices and heighten competition.
Providing multi-year coverage that moves with you from job to job and from home to home.
Requiring states with Medicaid to develop a financial risk adjustment bonus to high-cost and low income families that will supplement tax credits and funds for Medicaid.
Allowing people to purchase insurance through any organization or association of choice (i.e. churches, employers, individual purchases, and professional associations). The policy chosen will be available to small businesses and the self-employed; and will be portable across jobs. It will also automatically bridge the time between Medicare eligibility and retirement. Certification and rigorous standards would have to be met before plans are approved.

.... What do I think?

McCain's plan still isn't helping high risk patients who cannot qualify for individual health insurance,