According to a new analysis from the Economic Policy Institute, in their first 10 years of operation, the Obama health care plan is expected to cover 47 percent of the uninsured population. The McCain plan is expected to cover 5 percent. There's even a graph:
In other words, the Obama plan is far, far better, but 47 percent isn't universal, and it's not even particularly close. To some degree, this understates the difference between the Obama and McCain plans -- the McCain plan works to make insurance less comprehensive and secure so it'll be cheaper, while the Obama plan makes it more secure and more comprehensive and subsidizes those who need help -- but it's still not the clear distinction one might hope for. Obama can step on the stage and declare his plan better, but he can't stand on the stage and say that unlike John McCain, he'll cover every America. Meanwhile, there's an effort afoot to amend the Democratic Party platform to include a plank calling on the country to "guarantee accessible health care for all." The current language, which is in many respects quite good, stops a few steps before that, saying that "coverage should be made affordable for all Americans."
In other words, the Obama plan is far, far better, but 47 percent isn't universal, and it's not even particularly close. To some degree, this understates the difference between the Obama and McCain plans -- the McCain plan works to make insurance less comprehensive and secure so it'll be cheaper, while the Obama plan makes it more secure and more comprehensive and subsidizes those who need help -- but it's still not the clear distinction one might hope for. Obama can step on the stage and declare his plan better, but he can't stand on the stage and say that unlike John McCain, he'll cover every America. Meanwhile, there's an effort afoot to amend the Democratic Party platform to include a plank calling on the country to "guarantee accessible health care for all." The current language, which is in many respects quite good, stops a few steps before that, saying that "coverage should be made affordable for all Americans." 
