WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND ON : Health Care

Background: Soaring health care costs have provoked a national debate over the future of the country’s medical system. More than 37 million Americans lack health insurance, straining the ability of public and private hospitals to provide care.

Average cost per day of hospital care 1972: $95 ‘74: $113 ‘76: $152 ‘78: $194 1980: $244 ‘82: $327 ‘84: $410 ‘86: $499 ‘88: $581 Source: American Hospital Assn.

President Bush favors using tax breaks and vouchers to make health care more affordable to low- and middle-income persons. Insurance companies would have to accept all groups that seek insurance, but companies could deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions such as AIDS or cancer. The Administration would fund the proposals by reducing Medicaid funding and administrative costs. He is opposed to a nationally controlled system.

Patrick J. Buchanan proposes allowing employers to open medical IRA’s that would allow employees to use the money for minor medical costs and have high deductible polices for more expensive medical needs. Individuals without employer-provided insurance would be eligible for the same tax benefits as companies opening medical IRAs, and high-deductible policies could be deducted from federal taxes. He calls for a moratorium on all new Medicare regulations for two years. Buchanan would issue vouchers for up to 75% of nursing home expenses to families who care for indigent relatives at home and issue vouchers for VA patients to spend on private medical facilities.

Bill Clinton supports a “pay or play” proposal that would require employers to provide insurance or pay additional taxes that would be applied toward a federal fund for the uninsured. He calls for the creation of a health care board to establish standard benefits. Clinton supports streamlining cost controls, eliminating tax breaks for drug companies who raise prices on medication faster than personal income rises and limiting medical legal liabilities to help control insurance premiums.

Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. favors a national health care system with guaranteed benefits for everyone modeled after the Canadian system. Health care would be funded by the federal government and administrated by private providers. Brown also supports the use of non-traditional forms of health care.