One of the biggest issues facing the two candidates involves health care and the uninsured. Part of this issue is each candidate's position on the problem of HIV and AIDS. Despite all his shortfalls, President George Bush will be remembered for his programs to combat the worldwide HIV/AIDS problem. So will the eventual winner of this election pick up where Bush left off? What is the position of the candidates on health care and HIV? Let's take a look.
The Candidates and Health Care
The central issue with regard to health care is the uninsured. Specifically, how will each candidate approach the issue of affordable health care and insurance? How will their healthcare system make certain everyone has access to health care and will be insured?
Barack Obama - Democrat
- He promises universal healthcare by the end of his first term.
- His plan would provide a tax credit to small businesses in order to provide medical insurance for their employees.
- His plan would require larger companies to provide insurance for their employees or pay into a national fund that would provide insurance options for the uninsured.
John McCain - Republican
- The four pillars of his plan
- affordability
- access and choice
- portability and security
- quality
- McCain believes the key to healthcare reform is to give patients control.
- His plan would require individuals to pay income tax on employer provided healthcare insurance. In return, individuals would receive a tax credit of $2,500 to $5,000 per family to allow consumers to buy their own healthcare plans.
- Senator McCain believes his plan would create competition among health insurance providers, creating more options for insurance consumers.
The Candidates and HIV
Like we mentioned above, President George Bush has helped put into place some of the most comprehensive AIDS funding programs to help fight the epidemic around the world. The issue is that while we as a nation spend about $10 billion annually to fight HIV abroad, we spend less than 10% of that here at home. How will the candidates address the HIV problem?
Barack Obama
- Wants to prevent HIV through education and more extensive HIV testing.
- Advocates a national HIV/AIDS strategy that would involve all federal agencies.
John McCain
- Supports abstinence-only programs to prevent the spread of HIV.
- Wants guaranteed access to health plans for those with pre-existing conditions like HIV.
- Wants to put programs in place that would promote competition among drug companies which in turn would decrease the cost of drugs to the consumer.
Both Candidates
- Both support President Bush's global AIDS initiative.
VP Candidates - Sarah Palin - Republican / Joseph Biden - Democrat
Hopefully this brief synopsis brings the healthcare issue into focus. Whether you vote Democrat or Republican, get out and vote. Your vote can make a difference.
Sources: (2008). "Straight Talk on Health Care Reform"; Retrieved 10/16/08 from http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm. Obama, B. (2008). "Barack Obama and Joe Biden's Plan to Lower Health Care Costs and Ensure Affordable, Accessible Health Care Coverage for All"; Obama for America; Retrieved October 16, 2008; http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/HealthCareFullPlan.pdf. Obama, B. "Barack Obama and Joe Biden: Fighting HIV/AIDS Worldwide"; Retrieved October 16, 2008; http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/FactSheetAIDS.pdf.
