New Ad: Voters Can't Believe McCain's Health Care Policy Extremes

The progressive group Health Care for America Now is up with a new spot whacking John McCain for proposing a health care policy that voters can't even believe is real. The ad takes responses from the group's previous focus group testing - during which voters were read various McCain proposals - and turns them on the Senator.

"John McCain's health care plan is so outrageous that when we previewed our new ads about it, people couldn't even believe what they saw," the narrator says.

It's a clever move in an political ad cycle that has seen its fair share of noteworthy takes. The spot is debuting on the web and is designed to raise funds for a separate campaign the group has launched in Ohio. The broader theme is one that both Health Care for America Now and (independently) the Obama camp has been hitting for weeks: voters shouldn't trust McCain with their health care, especially in these perilous economic times.

"The comments in the web ad are culled directly from our testing," said Jacki Schechner, a spokesperson for the group. "People didn't think McCain's plan could really be that detrimental. We think people should read more about it for themselves."

Comments

[addie24]

I also heard he wants to make active and retired military pay more for health care and prescriptions.
Does anyone know anything about this. I heard some veterans are upset but no one appears to be talking about this.

[apoyo]

It's a health care plan for the well being of the health insurances.

[Old time Dem]

John McCain: putting corporations and lobbyist ahead of the American people. - over and over and over again.

He's not likely to change his behavior after 26 years.

[DiBaskin]

John McCain's Health Care Plan scares the Hell out of me. Health Care is expensive enough now. Why does McCain want to make it worse than it is unless he is working for the Insurance companies. Insurance companies will probably raise their rates and only insure the Healthy people. Also would it be like car insurance? Could they raise your rate if you get sick like they do if you have an accident. Also McCain plans on taxing our Health Benefits. He wants to make sure we have to go private. The $5,000 tax credit will leave us all in a hole.
McCain just doesn't get it.

[CtJean]

Can anyone get good health care for $5,000.00 per year?

THE ANSWER IS NO!!!!!!

[Chlowina]

We had to get private insurance after hubby was diagnosed with MS and had to quit work. The first year was h*ll with pre-existing, etc. He'll be eligible for Medicare in April, 2009, but I will still be under the private policy for another 8 years when I'll be 65.

How will this affect us? I heard that McC will be taking the money out of medicare to pay the supposed tax credit. Gotta find that site and read up on it.

[Chlowina]

What I feared. We'll be up the creek without the proverbial paddle.

Will see next month how much our premium will increase. Increased $80/month last year. And the CEO of Highmark Blue Shield got a million dollar raise. Sadly, hubby's SS and pension increases of last year didn't come close to the increase of the insurance premium. sigh

[ProudLiberalDemocrat]

I am an Obama supporter.....

But McCain's plan might work better for you since you buy your insurance privately.

McCain's plan, as I understand it, would give a $5,000 payment directly to your insurance company. You pay the difference. McCain pays for the credit by taxing employer-based recipients.....

McCain's plan is not good for folks with employer-paid healthcare. They'd still receive the $5,000 credit, but be taxed on the difference. So, if you have $12,000 employer coverage, McCain gives you $5,000 credit and then taxes the $7,000 you receive from your employer.

Since I purchase my healcare privately, and I am an Obama supporter, I still have to admit that McCain's plan would better suit my needs. But taxing the benefit that for so long has been untaxed, would turn the system on it's head for many folks. Think about the average worker making $50,000 that also receives healthcare....under McCain's plan, their tax burden would be worse......even though McCain gives tax breaks to middle income, he takes most of it back by taxing healthcare.....

[TurgidCaterwauling]

Health Insurance companies are in business to make a profit. They will have very little interest in insuring health risks. For individuals who don't have group plans through their employers, buying insurance in the free market will destroy families.

[Concern2008]

You can go to McCain's website for details of his plan.

[jeffp26]

McCain:

Out of touch

out of ideas

out of his mind!!!

[ILikeH00ters]

one of the 527 groups should explain this to people in OHIO, PA, VA and FL. In fact O himself should take out a five minutes AD and explain mcCain's health plan in "simple" English because low information voters who vote on religion, guns and abortion have absolutely no clue what's ahead for their health care if they vote for McCain.

[cavegal]

Low information voters are usually low income workers that do not have insurance. Health is usually an emergency concern which is what wipes so many families out financially. Preventative health care is not practiced so catching potential problems early is not an option.

[stillfresh]

It's one thing to have even a bad plan. It's another to root out WHY insurance is expensive. Duh. Private health insurers are in the business of gambling on our medical fate. They play the part of the House in a casino. You roll the dice, your number comes up, say, with cancer, and the House decides whether it pays for your care or lets you rot.

This why we need single payer health insurance in this country. One day, it will be illegal to sell a health insurance policy in America.

[RTIII]

Oh, I don't mind health insurance...

While I'm busy enjoying the benefits of single-payer health care, rich people can buy health insurance if they want to - say, for things like elective surgery, extra days in the hospital beyond Dr.s recommendations, odd-ball cures nobody thinks will work, etc. - that is, secondary insurance.
.

[susierr]

OBAMA 08

[JonG345]

OBAMA 08!!

[Manx]

Wait until older voters find out that McCain wants to slash spending on Medicare by over a trillion dollars, as reported in the Wall St. Journal earlier this month. Not to mention Medicaid.

Why has the MSM been so quiet about this???

[egal]

Um, duh.

The MSM has been quiet because they don't want voters (potential viewers) to know that McCain's campaign's coffin nails have already been pounded in over every square inch. They apparently have put potential money from viewership higher than the good of the nation and its people.

[DoctorDonut]

McCain is just a hop skip and a jump from nursing home to the grave, so what the hell is he concerned over health care, or anything much else for that matter

http://www.theweeklydonut.com/index.php/2008/10/13/john-mccain-hes-just-plain-scary-part-three/

[MaryanneAZ]

Unfortunately, we have two major political parties and the majority of the electorate vote their party (whether in their best interest or not). I am hoping that this time Obama/Biden will be able to inspire people, especially younger people, to think about the issues and the Country's future and vote accordingly. I support Obama because I believe he is the leader we need to move this Country in a new direction, with a new vision, and a new plan. I am working to see that Obama gets elected for me, my son, my community, my Country and my World. I cannot fathom electing McCain who wants to eliminate both social security retirement and employer provided healthcare. Under McCain's plan, eventually the employee will have the money a company used to spend on his healthcare added to his paycheck and he will have the task of finding affordable healthcare coverage on the open market. People have just not tuned into this fact yet. If you think that the way you buy car insurance or homeowner's insurance is the way you want to purchase healthcare insurance privately, then McSame is your man. If you understand that the open market will allow healthcare insurers to freeze out people with pre-existing health problems or people who cannot afford big premiums, then Obama is your man. For me, I think the large pool employer-provided healthcare system is the best system for everyone. For me, the choice is Obama/Biden '08.

[grizhead63]

My mother doesn't believe me so I guess I will have to get it in writing. As I understand it, McCain's Republican insurance plan means that if we have a catastrophic illness or accident in the family and our insurance pays $500,000.00 (or whatever) we will have to pay income taxes on the full amount of the benefit as if it were income. He thinks we are all millionaires.

[CamJam]

Yep pretty much. Some people out there also think they GET the money from McCain, but the thing is, it does NOT go to you, it goes to your health care provider only.

Did your mom pay close attention to the last debate?
Obama:
" Now, Sen. McCain has a different kind of approach. He says that he's going to give you a $5,000 tax credit. What he doesn't tell you is that he is going to tax your employer-based health care benefits for the first time ever.

So what one hand giveth, the other hand taketh away. He would also strip away the ability of states to provide some of the regulations on insurance companies to make sure you're not excluded for pre-existing conditions or your mammograms are covered or your maternity is covered. And that is fundamentally the wrong way to go."
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/07/presidential.debate.transcript/index.html

You might want to also show her this:
http://www.health08.org/sidebyside_results.cfm?c=5&c=16

Another video to watch which would directly affect my family situation as Autism would be considered a pre-existing condition just like cancer is this ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhZOXrUOGF4

[Shabba]

No that is not true. You will not be taxed on what the insurance company pays. However, whatever your employer now pays to cover your health care (usually about $12,000 per year for a family of four) will now count as income which you will be taxed on. McCain proposes $5,000 tax credit to help pay for that tax.

The problems are a) many small employers may simply drop health insurance instead of being burdened another set of taxes and tax paperwork; b) McCain's plan does nothing to help those who do not have employer sponsored health insurance.

[MaryanneAZ]

You've left out the part where your health insurance benefits are added to "wages, tips and other salaries" on your tax form thereby increasing your gross wages and tax burden. It's a huge tax increase for most of us. BTW, my employer pays about $7,000 for my single person coverage under a very good plan and I pay the remainder. It must depend on your state and employer what the value of the benefit ultimately is to the taxpayer/voter. I'm guessing the $12,000 per year is a low average and most state's surpass that amount.

[Blaheleven]

Ahhh but you will only be taxed if you are lucky enough to qualify for coverage.

[Ron1951]

Can anyone who actually understands McCain's health plan explain to me what the costs and effects on a family of 2 adults and 4 children will be.

Please, be sure of your facts if you are going to reply.

[blaqntelligence]

I'm not an expert, and this information is pulled from Senator Obama's comments.
For a family plan, generally, the cost is approximately $12,500/year. With mccain's plan the $7500 deficit will be made up by the family as the limit is $5000.
The nail in the coffin of this stupid plan for me is the idea that if a change is needed or desired we must go out on the open market ourselves and find the best plan for our family needs.
As mccain so proudly stated "We would be able to purchase insurance across state lines..." How does that work?
Unless the health insurance is going to be nationalized.
When I lived in NY, there was an insurance plan called Preferred Care. The best insurance in the nation IMHO. When I relocated to Atlanta, I discovered the plan was not offered in the south.
If I've oversimplified or missed the boat completely please tell me.
This is MY understanding of the mccain health plan.
As much as I loved that insurance I do not plan to travel to NY for health care.

[Petey131]

Let us not forget those who a pre-condition. They will be rejected by insurance companies.

[Ron1951]

is the limit for a family of 6 $5000 or (6x2500) 15,000?

As for shopping out of state, what if your doctor does not accept that plan? With current health plans if the doctor does not work with that plan then you pay a higher rate as a non-preferred doctor.

[JinChicago]

it all depends on how the insurance companies react. as said in the debate, if they go to a state where the laws are loose (which the most assuredly will) it will be a negative impact all around.

specifics are hard to say, cause i dont write insurance, but if you call your agent and ask how much your plan would be as is if you paid for all of it, just subtract 5k from that and that will be your new yearly amount you have to come up with.