John McCain

John McCain has been a U.S. Senator from Arizona since 1982. McCain is a decorated Vietnam Veteran, where he was a naval flight attack pilot. He was born on August 29, 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone.

Senator McCain's Health Reform Plan

John McCain's health care proposal takes a different approach to the U.S. health care system than the other Republican candidates. While the other candidates concentrate on reducing the number of uninsured Americans, Senator McCain focuses on controlling and reducing the cost of health care.

Controlling Costs

Senator McCain would encourage Americans to use more generic prescription drugs. He would allow drug imports from Canada to increase competition and drive down prices.

McCain would also encourage the use of walk-in health clinics at retail stores such as Wal-Mart. Nurse practitioners are the main caregivers in many of these retail clinics, and provide care at a cheaper rate than doctors.

McCain's plan focuses on improving Americans' health to reduce costs, as well — with better care for chronic illnesses and a focus on preventive care. Senator McCain will also ensure all veterans have access to high-quality care.

Reducing Insurance Costs and Uninsured

To drive down the cost of insurance, McCain would promote competition among private health insurers. Citizens would also be able to buy plans across state lines, which will help drive down rates.

McCain's plan does address reducing the amount of uninsured Americans. He proposes to give all Americans a refundable tax credit to help pay for insurance. Individuals will receive $2,500 and families will receive $5,000.

Sources

John McCain 2008: Straight Talk on Health System Reform
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/

New York Times: McCain to Unveil Health Plan Focusing on Quality of Care
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/us/politics/11mccain.html

Associated Press: McCain Clarifies Health Care Plan
http://ap.google.com/article/

Wall Street Journal: McCain's Health-Care Divergence
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/

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