Reply #56: You can compare them all here:

[Tinoire]

The ones who failed are (in order) Bush (absolute worse), Edwards, Kerry, Gephardt/Dean (tied), Lieberman (barely worse) - all received a "no" in all 8 categories

The ones who did better are 1. Kucinich, 2. Braun/Sharpton(tied to each other and practically tied with Kucinich- but Braun has no real plan to get from A-Z)

The categories are

1 Includes Everyone
2 Controls Costs
3 Takes Profit Out
4 Cuts Link to Employment
5 Choice
6 Full Coverage
7 Fair Financing
8 Just Transition
9 Simple to Administer
10 Uninsured Covered
(in millions - 2001 data)


http://www.justhealthcare.org/PDF/scorecard.pdf
Sources: Commonwealth Fund, Physicians for a National Health Program, AFL-CIO, Candidates’ websites
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Here is the problem with Dean's plan in a nutshell (both of the extracts are snipped from the critique of plan section):

A report on health care reform from the
ADA’s President, Congressman Jim McDermott
September 4, 2003

Dean:
Basing the UHBP on this model, with no improvements in cost control, is a recipe for insurance but not for comprehensive, affordable health care.

Kucinich's was rated the best- for what it wanted to acheive and for having a workable plan to get there.

Kucinich:
Mr. Kucinich’s plan is by far the most comprehensive,
because it guarantees coverage to all Americans and
overhauls the health care finance system. It would
also do the best job of controlling costs among the
Presidential contenders’ plans.
The strengths of the plan are also the source of its
vulnerability—one group’s ‘cost control’ is another
group’s lower payment. This proposal would
probably face substantial resistance from influential,
well-entrenched groups that would expect to lose
under this proposal, such as insurance companies,
pharmaceutical companies and health care providers.
In addition, the plan is expensive, requiring a new
and large tax increase. Also, the prospect of a
government bureaucracy controlling health care
delivery could bring opposition.
Many of the concerns about this plan are unfounded.
Most employers would benefit under the plan because
health care would become less expensive—the 7.7%
payroll tax for health services is lower than the 8.5%
of payroll most employers currently devote to health
care. Health care providers would also benefit from
a consistent and reliable government-guaranteed
revenue stream as well as increased utilization of
health services by both the uninsured and
underinsured.

www.adaction.org/ADAHealthSecurityNews.pdf


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About Just Health Care (Just in case anyone wants to know who they are)

Just Health Care is the Labor Party's proposal for national health insurance: a public insurance fund and a private health care system with free choice of doctors, hospitals and clinics.

Instead of over 1,000 insurance companies creating mountains of paperwork and wasting our premium dollars, one insurance plan will cover everyone.

Think of it as a health insurance policy that provides guaranteed, lifetime health care coverage, whether you have a job or not.

How Does National Health Insurance Work?
Patients. For patients, national health insurance is simple. All U.S. residents will have a health insurance card which guarantees access to quality health care whenever and wherever we need it. Simply walk into a doctor's office, hospital or clinic of your choice, present your card and receive the care you need.

No money changes hands. Premiums, deductibles and co-payments are eliminated. You never receive a doctor, hospital or insurance company bill. You never wait to be reimbursed while haggling with insurance companies over what is and isn't covered.

Administration. The plan is simple to administer too. National health insurance eliminates the need for private insurance by creating one public insurance fund. The government collects revenues and state or regional boards reimburse doctors and hospitals for providing care.

National health insurance will keep costs in check by putting everyone in the same insurance pool, eliminating wasteful administrative costs and avoiding duplication of services, equipment and facilities.


Key Features of Just Health Care
Profit Out of Health Care
Whether it is the skyrocketing costs of traditional fee-for-service plans or the poor quality of managed care due to cutbacks in staffing, closing of hospital emergency rooms and denial or delay of needed care, our health is compromised under a profit-driven health care system.

As much as 30 cents of every premium dollar is squandered on enormous CEO salaries, shareholder profits, advertising and administration. The Labor Party calls for taking the profit out of health care.


Comprehensive Coverage
Many of us with health insurance pay out-of pocket for services such as dental care and prescription drugs and most of us lack sufficient coverage for a catastrophic or long-term illness. Nearly half of the 1 million Americans who file for bankruptcy - the majority with insurance - do so largely because of medical bills.

Just Health Care covers all appropriate care, including:

doctor visits
nursing home and long-term care
hospitalization
preventive & rehabilitative services
access to specialists
prescription drugs
mental health treatment
dental & vision services
occupational health services
medical supplies & equipment

http://www.justhealthcare.org/w_index.html