We’re in presidential election season and the so-called health care crisis is a primary topic among the three remaining candidates.  I’ll leave the industry diagnosis to others, but I thought a reasoned study of their positions would be helpful.

After carefully reading the health care policy positions of all three presidential candidates, it is clear that at least one major difference separates Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama from their Republican Party opponent Senator John McCain – a government mandate that all Americans be required to purchase a health insurance plan.

Senator Clinton proposes a sweeping mandate that “every American (be) required to have coverage,” while Senator Obama only requires that “all children have health coverage,” apparently leaving adults with the option of going uncovered.  He does, however, require that “all employers offer ‘meaningful’ coverage” for their employees.  An in-depth search yielded nothing on how to define “meaningful coverage.”  So, though he doesn’t require individuals to acquire coverage on their own, he does require all employers to provide it.  Both candidates propose tax credits to those who purchase their own health insurance.

Senator McCain opposes any mandate for coverage, preferring to allow Americans their constitutional right to choose for themselves.  However, he does support federal funding to states that allow government programs like Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to be used to purchase private insurance.  And, like his opponents, he also proposes tax credits for those families who purchase their own health insurance.

As a believer in free markets and private – not government – solutions to big problems, John McCain’s commitment to keeping government from further intrusion into the health care industry is aligned with my personal philosophy.  However, the entirety of his proposal isn’t a win-win solution either.  I’m concerned about his proposed elimination of tax-favored employer insurance and how that will affect my livelihood.