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Issues: Health and Social Security

JOHN KERRY


Social Security

The senator says he will not privatize Social Security, cut its benefits, raise the retirement age or increase Social Security taxes. He says he wants a bipartisan approach to reform.

Prescription drugs

He plans to reduce prices by allowing the re-importation of safe prescription drugs from Canada and end artificial barriers to generic drug competition. He wants to empower the health and human services secretary to negotiate lower prices on drugs. He criticizes Bush's Medicare drug benefit as not stopping rising drug costs.

Medicare reform

The federal government would reimburse states for certain Medicare coverage conditions for children, and eligibility would be expanded to include more children.

Health care

He wants everyone to have access to the same insurance program federal employees have. Individuals and the self-employed would be given tax credits to afford the premiums. Coverage for the unemployed and retirees under age 65 would be free. Kerry supports an appeal process that will hold health maintenance organizations accountable.

Medical liability

He supports affordable malpractice insurance for doctors. He opposes capping damages in medical liability lawsuits.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Social Security

He says he plans no changes in benefits for current retirees and near-retirees. He wants to give younger workers the opportunity to use part of their Social Security payroll taxes to build a nest egg for retirement through voluntary personal savings accounts.

Prescription drugs

Beginning in 2006, seniors will have a choice between purchasing a private, stand-alone Medicare Prescription Plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan with qualified prescription drug coverage. The Bush administration opposed allowing Americans to buy drugs from Canada. He promotes the use of cheaper generic drugs.

Medicare reform

Seniors would be able to chose from two plans that will operate similar to preferred provide organizations and include prescription drug coverage.

Health care

He would give a tax credit to small businesses and their employees to set up health savings accounts and help low-income individuals and families buy into the accounts. He wants to enroll more low-income children in government health insurance programs by extending eligibility. He would open and expand community and rural health centers.

Medical liability

He supports reform to reduce rising litigation costs. He criticizes Kerry as fighting such reform.

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Bush should have been smacked with his microphone during the debate. Hope, hope he is not re-elected!!

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