Comments on: Studies Rebuff McCain’s Critics

By: James Capretta

James Capretta — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:02:54 +0000

Senator Obama continues to distort the facts about Senator McCain's health-care plan, which I addressed in a recent piece, posted at National Review Online on October 10th. The full article is available here.

By: John R. Graham

John R. Graham — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:31:42 +0000

I don’t want to sound pompous, but I think I’d call my analysis (http://tinyurl.com/5zkgsm) at least “quasi-academic” (if only because none of the callers on the radio shows seem to follow what I’m saying).

Love what you’re doing with your blog, Dr. Goodman!

By: Patrick Boarman

Patrick Boarman — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:58:03 +0000

Obama is going to be our next president, so get used to it and stop with the last-ditch attempts to befuddle the issues. Universal health care is coming as well, so get used to that as well.

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:46:21 +0000

I want to second what Bill said. Remember Obama’s criticism of Hillary?

He said Hillary wants to require people to buy something they cannot afford and then tax them when they don’t buy it — leaving them worse off than before the plan got started.

This is an apt criticism of Obama’s own plan.

By: Bill W.

Bill W. — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:43:15 +0000

At least McCain has a source of funds (existing tax subsidies)to pay for some of his proposals.

Obama has no source of funding other than taxing the very people he says he is trying to help.

By: AAPS News of the Day » Blog Archive » Which candidate’s health plan will hurt the most?

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:47:12 +0000

[...] the only two academic studies of the McCain and Obama plans, John Goodman writes that, according to the Lewin study, 9.4 million would lose employer coverage under McCain, and 13.9 [...]

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:49:02 +0000

I agree with Terry. On the other hand, John McCain does an awful job of explaining his health plan.

John Goodman’s blog is much clearer in explaining McCain’s health plan than the McCain for President Web site!

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:27:19 +0000

I watched the debate Wednesday night and it was a completely different Obama from the Democratic primary.

He never used the word “universal coverage,” he did not say he was going to make health care affordable for everyone, and he didn’t say a word about paying for health care reform by repealing the Bush tax cuts for the rich.

I think Obama is reneging already and we haven’t even voted yet.

By: Ralph F. Weber

Ralph F. Weber — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:37:06 +0000

John McCain’s plan will drive down the premiums for health insurance by allowing shopping across state lines, and by encouraging people to buy more reasonably priced health plans by stopping the unlimited subsidies now in place. It will also reduce the number of uninsured by the reduction of premium, and by giving individuals who purchase health plans individually, the same tax break that employers now get.

By: Stan Ingman

Stan Ingman — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:19:48 +0000

John,

Very old debate . Still a good debate.

UMW did this in 1930s or 40s, and was attacked by AMA or other in your camp as socialist.

Swiss, very capitalist society, has a core of hospital doctors employed in cantonal hospitals, and this seems to improve access and controls costs well. Of course they have a large free enterprise medical practice world outside the hospitals that secure insurance payments much like USA.

UK as you know well has specialists on salary with a GP service under contract with Govt.—semi private practice—and they control costs better than anyone in the world perhaps, and provide the best overall access to an entire population – with some rationing by condition as opposed to our income rationing system.

Keep thinking…you may become a democratic socialist any day now. Just kidding!

My years of working in three medical schools leave me to question your focus on markets and choice. I have some 40 + years of watching the Swiss System blend choice and structure together in creative ways. After many years of negative comments about UK and Canada, both systems are now considered better models to follow, than our USA model, by more and more “experts” it seems.