Health Care BS

Back on August 2, Ron Paul made a floor speech in the House of Representatives about the Comprehensive Health Care Act. My first thought on reading the text was, “This contains some sensible elements. The good doctor must be back on his meds.”

Then it struck me how similar it was to the health care strategy recently outlined by Dr. Paul’s arch-nemesis, Rudy Giuliani. Both plans emphasize the free market and seek to fix perverse incentives created by government meddling in health care and insurance.

The most obvious similarities between Saint Paul’s legislation and Hizzoner’s proposal involve tax reform and health savings accounts. Here’s what the former does about taxes:

Provides all Americans with a tax credit for 100% of health care expenses. The tax credit is fully refundable against both income and payroll taxes.

Giuliani also envisions a tax break:

Expand choice through tax code reform … Rudy proposes an income exclusion of up to $15,000 for those without employer coverage …

There are obvious differences in the details. But, philosophically, Ron and Rudy would appear to be on the same page with regard to tax reform. They are also together on health savings accounts. The good doctor’s legislation:

Makes every American eligible for a Health Savings Account (HSA), removes the requirement that individuals must obtain a high-deductible insurance policy to open an HSA …

Now, here’s what Giuliani envisions:

Improve and Expand Health Savings Accounts … Rudy will expand access to these accounts by simplifying the rules and regulations so that insurance coverage will meet the health care goals of individuals and families.

Again, not identical. But close. And there are other similarities between the two plans, which makes one wonder why most Ron Paul supporters think Giuliani is Darth Vader.

Hizzoner is no Libertarian, of course, but neither is Ron Paul. On health care, at least, there really isn’t that much daylight between the two.