Mitt Romney on Health Care

Mitt Romney plans to provide access to health insurance for all Americans through market reforms rather than new government programs or new taxes. He calls for tax deductions that would allow individuals to deduct out-of-pocket expenses and costs for insurance not provided by an employer. As Massachusetts governor, he instituted a statewide market-based health care plan for all state residents that mandated coverage for everyone who could afford it. He does not plan to put a similar nationwide plan into place. He would instead leave it to states individually to reform health care by expanding and deregulating their own marketplaces. Romney does advocate portable coverage for all Americans. He also advocates overturning Roe v. Wade and turning abortion decisions back to the states, until abortion could be eventually banned by the Constitution.

Health Insurance: Private/Government

• Empower states to reform health care.
• He calls for tax deductions that would allow individuals to deduct out-of-pocket expenses and costs for insurance not provided by an employer.
• Ensure that more Americans have portable, quality private health insurance by expanding and deregulating the private health insurance market.

Medical Costs

• No nationwide plan. Believes states can decrease health care costs by expanding and deregulating their private health insurance markets. He says he would offer federal incentives to help states accomplish this.
• Use tax reform to help bring down the total cost of acquiring health insurance.
• Use further tax reform to encourage "smart spending" on health care.

Health Savings Accounts

• Expand health savings accounts.