1. Presidential Candidates
Health Proposals
of the
Presidential Candidates
comments of
Henry J. Aaron
The Brookings Institution

2. Cost and Impact Estimates
Year McCain Obama
Lewin Urban/Brookings Lewin Urban/Brookings
Cost (billions of dollars)
Year McCain Obama
Lewin Urban/Brookings Lewin Urban/Brookings
Number of uninsured (millions)

3. McCain Obama Guaranteed access to FEHBP-like plan
1. Refundable tax credits--$2,500 for individuals, $5,000 for families
2. End exclusion from income tax of employer-financed premiums
3. High risk pools
4. Cross-state sale of health insurance authorized
Guaranteed access to FEHBP-like plan
Mandate coverage for children
National health insurance exchange
Subsidies to keep the cost of health insurance below specific fraction of income
Reinsurance