Economists critique McCain, Obama health plans

Health care economists investigating the plans of John McCain and Barack Obama concluded that both plans have their shortcomings (Source: “Economists take critical view of health plans,” Dayton Daily News/AP, Sept. 16, 2008).

According to the critiques, published at the Web site for the journal Health Affairs, McCain’s plan would do little to lower the number of Americans without insurance (Source: “Cost And Coverage Implications Of The McCain Plan To Restructure Health Insurance,” Health Affairs, Sept. 16, 2008).  On the other hand, the Obama plan would not sufficiently address rising health care costs, a flaw that would ultimately undermine initial reductions in the number of uninsured (Source: “The Obama Plan: More Regulation, Unsustainable Spending,” Health Affairs, Sept. 16, 2008).

Health Affairs received the critical analysis of McCain’s plan unsolicited. After it was reviewed and accepted, the journal sought out economists who would take a similarly critical look at Obama’s plans. Among those reviewers of the Obama plan is Gail Wilensky, an unpaid adviser to the McCain campaign.