Republicans

Health Care Reform From The Republican Presidential Candidates

The major Republican presidential candidates, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and Senator John McCain, have offered health care reforms that approach the U.S. health system differently than their Democratic opponents.

Tax Exemptions For Coverage

Rudy Giuliani has proposed that he would give tax exemptions of up to $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families to help them pay for their own health plans. Any leftover money after the plan is bought can be saved in tax-free Health Savings Accounts.

Mayor Giuliani would also slowly move away from employer-sponsored care, moving people to the individual private health insurance market. He argues that an increase in number of Americans looking for private coverage will spark competition among insurers and drive down rates.

States Decide Their Own Health Care Reform

Mitt Romney also intends to preserve the free market. But he wants to take the "federalist" approach, which gives states the power to decide what's best for their own health care system.

Romney would redirect federal money currently being used to pay for the care of the uninsured to give the states. The states would then decide how to help their residents without coverage buy their own plans. He would also urge states to reform insurance regulations to make rates more affordable.

The former governor also wants to make changes to the tax system. He argues it's unfair that employers can pay for their health insurance costs with pre-tax dollars. To level the ground, premiums, deductibles, and copayments will be fully tax-deductible for individual health insurance.

Controlling Health Care Costs

John McCain is the only other Republican candidate to offer a fully developed proposal for health care reform in America. His proposal focuses more on bringing health care costs down, rather than providing coverage for the uninsured.

McCain wants to see doctors' performances as health care providers monitored more closely. He would also change the way physicians receive payment — instead of getting paid per service, they would be paid for a month or year of medical service. Physicians would also be judged on care for chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Republicans Vs. Democrats

Not surprisingly, the Republicans' proposals fundamentally differ from the Democrats' proposals — Republicans believe that more competition and the free market is the answer to lowering health care and health insurance costs, while the Democrats believe government intervention is necessary to lower costs.

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