A summary of the health care reform measures offered by the principal candidates known to be running for the Democratic Party’s 2004 Presidential nomination.
Former Vermont governor Howard Dean: Expand federal and state programs to cover children, low-income adults. Tax breaks to help individuals and small businesses buy insurance. Predicted cost: $93 billion a year.
North Carolina Senator John Edwards: Require parents to provide health insurance for their children. Tax credits would help cover the cost, depending on family income. Predicted cost: $53 billion a year.
Missouri Representative Richard Gephardt: Require employers to offer coverage and give them tax breaks to help pay the cost. Predicted cost: $240 billion a year.
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry: Restructure federal and state programs to cover more children, low-income adults. Tax breaks to help individuals and small businesses buy coverage. Predicted cost: $89 billion a year.
Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich: Government-run, Canadian-style system to cover everyone. Cost: Unpredictable, but unquestionably the most expensive.
Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman: Taxpayer-subsidized health insurance for children, small-business employees, and laid-off workers. Predicted cost: $53.4 billion a year.
