McCain's Health Plan Belongs in a Bedpan

Second, individuals would find they pay more for health care insurance. The Kaiser Family Foundation released of study of health care costs for 2007 showing premiums for individuals are $4,479 per person and $12,106 per family of four. Consumers would have to make up the difference.

Worse, big questions need to be answered. When would you get a rebate? Would you have to wait a year, until you file your income taxes? What if you can't afford the premiums because you live paycheck to paycheck? A cash crunch could force many not to purchase health care. This could add to the 47 million Americans who lack health care coverage, many of whom burden taxpayers by reneging on emergency-room bills.

The McCain campaign did not respond to emails asking for additional information. His plan has some similarities to a proposal made by President Bush, which died without much discussion in Congress.

Fewer people buying insurance puts pressure on insurance companies. How would health care companies make a profit? It is possible they would become more selective in their coverage and decide not to cover people with pre-existing conditions. McCain deals with this by creating a small subsidy to help them. The total expenditure would be approximately $7 billion, which might cover 5 million to 7 million people at best, according to McCain's campaign.

Elizabeth Edwards attacked McCain's health care plan in the media. She said that McCain's plan grossly underfunds those with access issues, and she continued: "We're talking about the most radical plan ever suggested by a presidential candidate." Edwards had previously panned McCain because neither he nor she could get coverage with cancer under his plan.

Much of McCain's plan rests on driving down costs through competition. It might work. But as I outlined here, it could prove painful for both consumers and insurers in the process. His campaign will have to provide a clearer picture of the benefits for Americans to take it seriously.

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