Reports Provide Analysis of Presidential Nominees’ Health Proposals; New Resource Provides Information on Foreign Countries’ Health Care Systems

• Analyses of presidential nominees' health proposals, Urban Institute: The analyses provide an overview and overall assessment of health care plans proposed by presidential nominees Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.). The analysis of McCain's plan finds that the proposal "would dramatically change how many Americans obtain health insurance coverage, make coverage less accessible for those with health problems, have a high budget cost, but have little effect on the number uninsured." The analysis of Obama's proposal finds that the plan "contains the basic components necessary for effectively addressing the most important shortcomings of the current health care system, that is, limited coverage, inadequate risk pooling and high-cost growth" (Urban Institute, 9/22).
  
  
• "International Health Profiles," KaiserEDU.org: The new resource summarizes the health systems and structures of Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Singapore, and reviews the major features of the countries' health coverage, financing and service delivery policies. The profiles also include links to articles with more information. More countries will be added in the coming months (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 9/23).