"An often-made claim is that it is expensive to be sick in America. That may be true, though no more so than any of the more socialist systems in the world perceived as 'inexpensive' by those desiring similar government programs here. In those nations, the cost is hidden in individual tax-rates in excess of 50 percent, so the extremely high costs for care are still being paid by the patient. They just don't write the check to the doctor, they write it to the tax collector."
» Source: RonPaul2008.com
Like his fellow Republican presidential hopefuls, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, wants a market-based health care system, no universal mandate to have health insurance and no tax increases. His plan involves encouraging competition, increasing consumer choice and removing the red tape that prevents access to better, cheaper health care.
Here are some of his ideas:
Make all medical expenses tax deductible. Provide a $500-per-child tax credit to offset costs not covered by insurance.
Remove obstacles to opening Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs.
Allow doctors to negotiate medical costs with insurance companies.
Remove regulations that keep small businesses from offering coverage.
Prevent the expansion of the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies that inflate the cost of health care while limiting choices for consumers.
Improve access to health care by reforming licensure requirements for pharmacists and nurses so that they may perform basic medical care.
*Rep. Paul's voting record on health care:
Voted
Topic
Date
NO
Adding eligibility for 2 million to 4 million children to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP.
Oct. 2007
YES
Requiring negotiated prescription prices for Medicare part D.
Jan. 2007
NO
Denying nonemergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay.
Feb. 2006
NO
Limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 in damages.
May 2004
NO
Limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients.
Nov. 2003
YES
Allowing re-importation of prescription drugs.
July 2003
YES
Small business associations for buying health insurance.
June 2003
NO
Capping damages and setting time limits in medical lawsuits.
March 2003
NO
Subsidizing private insurance for Medicare prescription drug coverage.
June 2000
NO
Banning physician-assisted suicide.
Oct. 1999
YES
Establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts.
Oct. 1999
N/A
Rated 56 percent by the American Public Health Association, indicating a mixed record on public health issues.
Dec. 2003
N/A
Sponsored bill prohibiting mandatory mental health screening for students.
May 2007
Source: On the Issues
*Members of Congress sometimes vote on different versions of a bill. Voting yes or no on one doesn't mean they'll vote the same way on succeeding versions.
"An often-made claim is that it is expensive to be sick in America. That may be true, though no more so than any of the more socialist systems in the world perceived as 'inexpensive' by those desiring similar government programs here. In those nations, the cost is hidden in individual tax-rates in excess of 50 percent, so the extremely high costs for care are still being paid by the patient. They just don't write the check to the doctor, they write it to the tax collector." 
