Topline Messaging: "Call To Action Tour":
This week, John McCain is traveling across the country outlining his plan for comprehensive health care reform.
For too long, our nation's leaders have talked about reforming health care. Now it is time to act.
John McCain believes we can and must provide access to better health care, at lower cost, for every American.
John McCain believes the key to health care reform is to restore control to the patients themselves. We want a
health care system in which everyone can afford and acquire the treatment and preventative they need. Health care
should be available to all, and not limited by where you work or how much you make. Families should be in charge of their
health care dollars and have more control over care.
Through more choice, innovation, competition, prevention and better technology, we can ensure that every
American has the health care they deserve.
John McCain's plan will ensure that those with high medical costs or pre-existing conditions have access to the
health care they need.
A Specific Plan Of Action: Making Health Insurance Innovative, Portable And Affordable:
ACCESSIBILITY: John McCain will reform health care making it easier for individuals and families to obtain
insurance. An important part of his plan is to use competition to improve the quality of health insurance with greater
variety to match people's needs, lower prices, and portability. Families should be able to purchase health insurance
nationwide, across state lines.
TAX BENEFITS: John McCain will reform the tax code to offer more choices by providing a refundable tax credit
($2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families) to offset the cost of insurance.
PORTABILITY: John McCain proposes making insurance more portable so insurance follows Americans from job
to job.
HSAs: John McCain will encourage and expand the benefits of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for families.
A Specific Plan Of Action: Lowering Health Care Costs:
John McCain proposed a number of initiatives that can lower health care costs. Within a decade, health spending
will comprise 20% of our economy taking an increasing toll on families and small businesses. Even Senators Clinton and
Obama recognize the pressure skyrocketing health costs place on small business when they exempt small businesses
from their employer mandate plans.
CHEAPER DRUGS: Lowering drug prices. John McCain will look to bring greater competition to our drug markets through safe re-importation of drugs and faster introduction of generic drugs.
CHRONIC DISEASE: Providing quality, cheaper care for chronic disease. By emphasizing prevention, early intervention, healthy habits, new treatment models, new public health infrastructure and the use of information technology, we can reduce health care costs.
COORDINATED CARE: Promoting coordinated care. Coordinated care - with providers collaborating to produce the best health care - offers better outcomes at lower cost.
GREATER ACCESS AND CONVENIENCE: Expanding access to health care. Families place a high value on quickly getting simple care. Government should promote greater access through walk-in clinics in retail outlets.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Greater use of information technology to reduce costs.
MEDICAID AND MEDICARE: Reforming the payment system to cut costs.
SMOKING: Promoting the availability of smoking cessation programs.
STATE FLEXIBILITY: Encouraging states to lower costs through innovation.
TORT REFORM: We should eliminate frivolous lawsuits and excessive damage awards.
TRANSPARENCY: Bringing transparency to health care costs. We must make public more information on treatment options and require transparency regarding medical outcomes, quality of care, costs and prices.
A Specific Plan Of Action: Ensuring Care For Higher Risk Patients:
John McCain understands that those without prior group coverage or with pre-existing conditions often have the
most difficulty obtaining the coverage they need.
John McCain will work with states to establish a Guaranteed Access Plan. As President, John McCain will work with
governors to develop a best practice model that states can follow - a Guaranteed Access Plan or GAP - that would reflect
the best experience of the states to ensure these patients have access to health coverage.
John McCain will work with Congress, the governors, and industry to make sure this approach is adequately
funded and has the right incentives to reduce costs for higher risk patients.
A Specific Plan Of Action: Confronting The Long-Term Care Challenge:
John McCain is committed to developing a strategy for meeting the challenges posed by a population needing
greater long-term care.
Setting The Record Straight: Covering Those With A Pre-Existing Condition:
MYTH: Some claim that under John McCain's plan, those with pre-existing conditions would be denied insurance.
FACT: John McCain supported the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in 1996 that took the
important step of providing some protection against exclusion of pre-existing conditions.
FACT: Nothing in John McCain's plan changes the fact that if you are employed and insured you will build
protection against the cost of any pre-existing condition.
FACT: As President, John McCain would work with governors to find the solutions necessary to ensure that
those with pre-existing conditions are able to easily access care.
