HealthCareForAmericaNow

Health Care for America Now challenges Senator McCain to level with the American people; explain what his health care plan would really do to the average family.

Washington, DC – This morning in Green Bay, WI, Senator John McCain told the American people he would “give every family in America a $5000 refundable tax credit to buy their own health insurance policy and let them choose their own doctor.” He also claimed that under his health care plan, “a married couple with two children making $35,000 will get $5000 to pay for health insurance and additional medical expenses,” and with an additional child exemption, that total would add “up to over $6000.”  

Health Care for America Now (HCAN) released the following statement in response, challenging Senator McCain to level with the American people instead of lying to them once again:

"When the average family health insurance plan runs $12,000/year, how does Senator McCain suggest that family of four earning $35,000/year find $6,000 or $7,000? In addition, McCain’s assertion that his plan would let you choose your own doctor is a complete fabrication. Not only would his plan continue to let the insurance industry call the shots and limit your choice of doctors, but McCain’s inadequate tax credit would push people into bare bones plans with even more restrictions on whom they can or can’t see.  

Senator McCain also plans to get rid of the exclusion for employer-based health coverage, shift the tax burden onto the employee, and eliminate state protections. How exactly does any of this make health insurance more affordable?

McCain’s health care plan is a sham. But he wouldn't understand that because he doesn’t have to navigate the independent, unregulated, bureaucratic insurance market.
See, Senator McCain enjoys the government health care he keeps attacking. He has coverage through the Veterans Administration, which is government run, socialized medicine. He’s covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefit System, which is government paid for, regulated private insurance.  And as a senior citizen, Senator McCain is eligible for Medicare which is government health insurance.  All these allow McCain to “see [his] doctor fairly frequently” as he told reporters in March.

And yet he believes none of these solutions are right for the rest of America, many of whom can’t afford to see their doctor at all.  

- Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now

Health Care for America Now (“HCAN”), a section 501(c)(4) issue advocacy organization, is a broad coalition of nonprofit and political organizations that are working to promote quality, affordable health care for all Americans.  HCAN and each of its members conducts and funds only activities appropriate to its tax and election law status. This statement was not funded or endorsed by HCAN’s 501(c)(3) members.