Here's the candidate rundown:
Hillary Clinton (D): Mandates individual health insurance coverage for all Americans. Offers federal subsidies for those who cannot afford it. Allows individuals to choose from among several private plans also offered to members of Congress, as well as a new public insurance plan modeled after Medicare.
John Edwards (D): Mandates individual health insurance coverage for all Americans by 2012. Requires employers to either provide health coverage for employees or help defray their insurance costs.
Barack Obama (D): Would create a national health insurance program for individuals who do not have employer-provided health care and who do not qualify for other existing federal programs.
Mitt Romney (R): Supports covering the uninsured without raising taxes or creating a government-controlled system. Encourages states to develop their own plans to cover the uninsured using market-based approaches.
John McCain (R): Opposes federally mandated universal coverage. Would increase awareness and promote the use of existing children's health insurance programs while expanding community health centers.
Mike Huckabee (R): Says current system is "irrevocably broken" but opposes federally mandated universal coverage. Would encourage private sector innovation to reduce health care costs.
- compiled from CNN
Thoughts on the issues personally? Or on the candidates' stances? Canadians--or anyone else for that matter--care to inform us how your healthcare system works?
I'll chip in once we get going.
Hillary Clinton (D): Mandates individual health insurance coverage for all Americans. Offers federal subsidies for those who cannot afford it. Allows individuals to choose from among several private plans also offered to members of Congress, as well as a new public insurance plan modeled after Medicare.
John Edwards (D): Mandates individual health insurance coverage for all Americans by 2012. Requires employers to either provide health coverage for employees or help defray their insurance costs.
Barack Obama (D): Would create a national health insurance program for individuals who do not have employer-provided health care and who do not qualify for other existing federal programs.
Mitt Romney (R): Supports covering the uninsured without raising taxes or creating a government-controlled system. Encourages states to develop their own plans to cover the uninsured using market-based approaches.
John McCain (R): Opposes federally mandated universal coverage. Would increase awareness and promote the use of existing children's health insurance programs while expanding community health centers.
Mike Huckabee (R): Says current system is "irrevocably broken" but opposes federally mandated universal coverage. Would encourage private sector innovation to reduce health care costs.
- compiled from CNN
Thoughts on the issues personally? Or on the candidates' stances? Canadians--or anyone else for that matter--care to inform us how your healthcare system works?
I'll chip in once we get going.