McCain's Health Care Plan Attacked In Million Dollar Independent Ad

The independent progressive group Heath Care For America Now! released a batch of eight ads targeting John McCain and seven incumbent House members Wednesday morning. Operating as a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, the group is pouring $4.3 million into all the spots. While the congressional ads will air on targeted local stations, the McCain ad, entitled "Fighter," will get a $1 million push on national cable, in addition to airings in Ohio.

While HCAN is forbidden by law from coordinating with Democratic committees, the McCain ad happens to target precisely the same issue as Obama's latest spot -- specifically by raising doubts questions about McCain's plan to tax employer-based health care.

Watch:

"With less than thirty days to go before Election Day, it is urgent that voters know where the candidates stand on health care," said Richard Kirsch, the group's national campaign manager. "For families struggling to make ends meet, the high cost of health care has been a leading economic indicator. Now is the time to convince every candidate and member of Congress to stand on the side of quality, affordable health care for all and not on the side of handing over more control to the private health insurance companies. Our goal is to get the next President and a majority of Congress committed to the principles of quality, affordable health care for all in 2009."

The seven congressional spots will target the records and positions of Senator John Sununu (R-NH), Congressman Ric Keller (FL-8), Congressman Randy Kuhl (NY-29), Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-7) and candidates Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9), Marty Ozinga (IL-11), and Erik Paulsen (MN-3).

McCain Ad Script:

I've never faced an enemy like cancer.

But it's ok. I'm a fighter.

Story continues below

Under John McCain's health care plan, 20 million (people) could lose their insurance at work - I could be one of them.

And with a pre-existing condition like cancer, I couldn't get coverage on my own.

He wants me to fight cancer and the insurance companies?

Fine. I'll take you both on.

VO: Ask Senator McCain which side he's on.

TITLE:

Senator McCain

Which side are you on - ours or the insurance companies'?

www.whichsidearetheyon.com

VO:

Health Care for America Now is responsible for the content of this advertising

TITLE:

Paid for by Health Care for America Now, www.healthcareforamericanow.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. HCAN is responsible for the content of this advertising.

Comments

[YouDisgustMe]

very effective ad

[John R]

I don't understand why nobody points out that families with kids will surely get the short end of the stick with McCain's healthcare plan. I hope Obama will add it to his stump speech.

McCain proposes to give tax credits of $5,000 to families and $2,500 to individuals. If a family consists of more than 2 persons, that family would not get any credit for the kids. But, as most families know, healthcare plans are more expensive the larger the family is. And if you have to buy an individual plan on the free market, as McCain wants everyone to do - as opposed to your employer's group plans - you can be sure that you will pay extra for each additional child you want to insure.

On top of that, healthcare costs are sure to go up further, so the amount that I and my employer currently pay for my plan will surely go up as well. McCain's tax credit does not.

This doesn't even take into account that many other tax credits and family assistance programs are cut off or phased out based on income, so increasing a family's income by $10,000 to $25,000 can easily disqualify a family from benefiting from those tax credits or programs. The stimulus package is a good example of that.

Thanks a lot, McCain!

[marymansour]

If John McCain gets into office there will be more to worry about than just our health insurance. This nation will go down in all aspects. More wars, worsening economy under his hokey additional bailout plan of buying up mortgages will be a big part of our problem. The myriad ways in which a McCain presidency will harm America is incalculable.

[copperfish]

Three years ago a friend of mine got a job working for a national non-profit group affiliated with a local university. Instead of offering her the comprehensive pre-tax healthcare plan offered by the university, her employer settled $5,000 (pre-tax) on her, a one-time annual payment so she could "shop" for her own healthcare plan. Sadly, my friend learned that it is virtually impossible to purchase individual health insurance for under $5,000 per year. She ended up with a health care plan that was so minimal in it's coverage it was laughable.

My pre-tax health insurance plan provided by my employer has a net annual worth of $25,000. I am single, I am part of the working middle class.

Under John MCain's plan I would get a $2,500 tax credit but my health insurance plan would be taxed. The income tax I paid on my adjusted gross income was about 19% last year, if I add on the value of my benefit plan and then figure my taxes, a $2,500 credit isn't going to help me much at all. What minimal benefit that tax credit might provide, I certainly wouldn't be able to go out and buy an individual health insurance plan that would provide me with the coverage and additional benefits I currently have through my employer.

Do the math and make an informed choice.

[cosmo86]

Health care costs a lot more than $5000.00 per year. So that knocks a lot of people out of getting health care alone. In addition, I have no insurance and I have diabetes. Number one, it has been very hard to even find a company that will even write me a policy, and if I did find one to write it, it would be very expensive and it would not cover my diabetes for a year. With that being said, I cannot afford to pay for my medicine, doctor, and lab bills on top of paying for an insurance premium. So, I have nothing. One more point, MC still has not told any of us anything about his economic plans. He just continues to say, "I know how to fix it" Yea, OK

[Jezreel]

Great ad. It drives the point home that McCain's health care policy will not benefit middle-class Americans.

[PennLawyer]

John McCain: "What is this "middle class" of which you speak?"

[JamesInDenver]

McCain's Plan:

1. Employers will not be able to deduct their group health premiums, so many will stop providing health insurance. Over time, the number of employers who provide coverage will dramatically decline. (This is a tax on health premiums.)

2.a) Employees, who loose employer coverage, will have to buy insurance on their own in the private market at a much higher rates. Unlike employers, they lack the bargaining power to command low premiums.

2.b) Older employees, and those with preexisting conditions (who loose employer coverage), will be placed in high-risk pools. If they can find insurance at all, they will pay much, much higher rates.

2.c) Employees in companies that continue health coverage, will see their taxes go up, because they can no longer deduct the premiums they pay into their employer's plan.

3. Taxpayers without employer coverage will receive a tax credit, but it will be too small to cover the cost private insurance. As a consequence, many will go uninsured. (The tax credit will be $2,500 for singles, and $5,000 for couples. The average cost for family health insurance is $12,000.)

4. Families making less than $5,000 will be out of luck. Your tax credits cannot exceed your taxable income.

5. Public hospitals will continue to be overburdened by uninsured patients, and families will continue to go broke.

6. (So who wins?) When premiums go up, insurance executives receive Larger Bonuses.

McCain also wants to reduce Medicare and Medicaid.

[Phoebe917]

thanks for the education. i have to admit, i am somewhat ignorant as to complicated health care issues. you laid it out nicely.

[bakingmom]

I can tell you that $5K is not even a drop in the bucket for most families. McCain's plan is "fuzzy math" at its worse.

We are blessed to have healthy children but just keeping up with the dentist, the optometrist, routine office visits, co-pays for prescriptions, and our regular premium is well over $1000 per month. That is all for preventative care; it does not include ER visits or optional services like the orthodontist and the dermatologist.

I hear it from my patients every single day: health care access and coverage is their #1 concern. McSame's plan is just one more example of how he really, truly does not "get it"

[IndependentforObama]

WOW!! I am hopeful that advertisements like this will help market the Health plan by Obama.

She is a fighter! What a great line for something she did not know she had, found it and instead of just looking in awe. She took it on.

She is a fighter like Obama.

Obama will fight for us. All of us.

What a wonderful day to have someone with a message of hope amongst the candidates.

God bless us ALL.

[mergina]

This is really sickening. How many presidents have we gone through PROMISING UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, only to see it get sidetracked again and again and again? Health care is becoming something for the FILTHY RICH ONLY. With dreaded medical problems running rampant through the population, 1 in 3 Americans who have already been diagnosed with cancer or are walking around with it and do not know yet, and all because GREED is the rule of law in washington, There will be no difference under Obama, they will blame it on the economy or a war or social security or aliens or anything, BUT AMERICA WILL NEVER SEE A UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PLAN. WELCOME TO PLANET GREED.

[DragonMama]

Teddy Roosevelt was the first president to call for Universal Health Care. Ironic, eh?

[Dave01]

I personally think the ad is misleading. It could be a lot more than 20 million since he also wants to cut Medicare and Medicaid.

[cheferic]

I couldn't stand it last night in the debate when John McCain was talking about his $5,000 health care benefit.Health care for a single payer costs $995 per month.After the $400 per month John McCain gives you ,then you get to cough up $125(per person) a week before you pay for medicine -thanks for the gum ball mickey.

[PeepingTom]

How will McCain ensure that this $5000 check he doles out will be used on health insurance? If he mandates that it be used for insurance, then it's "big government" meddling. So if it's just a fre check given to people, I assume many will use it to pay the bills, or buy clothes for their kids.

Although many people need health insurance, when presented with a wad of cash, they may use it for more immediate concerns, like paying mortgage or other bills.

McCain's plan doesn't change or improve anything. Nor has he shown how it will.

[DragonMama]

He's explained this - he sends the check straight to the insurance company of the individual's choice. So if you can't afford the insurance past the $5k handout. you get NOTHING.

[jimgilliamv2]

Obama has health care is a right -- McCain said it is a responsibility. That is all you need to know about their health care plans.

[lthuedk 1]

Stop fascism cold. Send it packing. Bring America back. http://www.light-to-dark.com/dubya_who.html