Health Care and the 2008 Presidential Election
The 2008 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most important in our nation's history. Our next leader will inherit several very pressing concerns, including reforming our flawed health care system. The year 2009 may offer the best chance for action in response to the growing health care crisis.
While both Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain have addressed the issue of health reform, there are significant differences between their health reform proposals. Families USA has published two reports that examine the key differences between these proposals.
Viewpoints—The Health Care Debate: Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack discusses the current state of health care and its role in the 2008 election. Watch | Read
Find out more about the candidates' health plans
The Candidates and Your Health Care Costs describes how Senator McCain's and Senator Obama's health care plans will affect health insurance costs for American families. (October 2008)
McCain versus Obama: Key Health Plan Differences is a short piece that addresses 10 key questions about the candidates' proposals.
Health Care and the 2008 Presidential Election: Comparing the Candidates' Positions on Health Care presents a more in-depth discussion of these issues.
Other Election Year Events
Winning Health Care Reform in 2009: A Forum at the Democratic Convention: Families USA and SEIU joined together to present a forum focused on making health care reform a top domestic priority for the next president and congress. The forum featured key Democratic leaders and took place during the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, August 27 at 9:30 a.m. at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
Speakers included Senator Hillary Clinton (NY); Governor Kathleen Sebelius (KS); Governor Deval Patrick (MA); Governor Ted Strickland (OH); Governor Edward Rendell (PA); Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (SD); House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (MI); and Congresswoman Hilda Solis (CA).
The Health Care 2008 Presidential Candidate Forums, organized by the Federation of American Hospitals and Families USA, featured candidates being interviewed about their positions on health care by a panel of prominent journalists from ABC News, National Public Radio, the Wall Street Journal, and the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. View archived webcasts of the forums at http://presidentialforums.health08.org.
