The Candidates on Health Coverage

A look at positions of the 2008 presidential candidates and their healthcare plans:

DEMOCRATS:

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: Expand health insurance to cover all children and to make catastrophic care available for all; look to states for ideas on universal coverage.

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: Mandatory universal coverage in first term. Tax credits for working families to make insurance more affordable. Business would be required to offer insurance to employees or pay into a pool for people without it. Expand Medicare and federal employees' health insurance plan to cover those without adequate workplace insurance. Raise taxes on wealthier families to help pay estimated cost of $110 billion a year. Also, raise taxes on a portion of "very generous" plans covering people making more than $250,000.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: Expand health insurance coverage by offering insurance that could be taken from job to job, with premiums based on ability to pay.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Mandatory universal coverage in first term, by expanding system of federal health insurance and family tax credits, and by imposing requirements on employers, health insurance companies and individuals. Increase taxes on wealthier families to pay for program's cost of up to $120 billion a year.

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Favors national health insurance program covering medical, dental, mental health and long-term care for all, as well as prescription drugs.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Require employers to share costs of insuring workers and ensure all children have health coverage. No mandate that everyone must have insurance. Raise taxes on wealthier families to pay the cost.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Tax breaks for businesses and for people who pay for their own health coverage. Lower the eligibility age for Medicare to 55 and expand programs for poor and children.

REPUBLICANS:

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback: "Market-based solutions, not government-run health care."

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: Income tax deduction of $7,500 per taxpayer to defray insurance costs. Tax credit for poorer workers to supplement Medicaid and employer contributions, as part of "market-driven" expansion of affordable coverage. Expanded use of health savings accounts.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Favors market solutions, state innovation.

California Rep. Duncan Hunter: Supported expansion of health insurance through tax breaks, not government-sponsored universal coverage.

Arizona Sen. John McCain: Has a record of promoting prescription drug coverage for older people and expanded insurance for children, but not universal coverage.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Incentives for states to expand affordable health insurance coverage.

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: Market reforms instead of more federal spending to expand health coverage.

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: "Market-driven" expansion of affordable health coverage.