Cutting through the politics: presidential candidates' healthcare platforms and impact on health benefits.

Healthcare reform is one of the top issues for the presidential elections this year, and both candidates have proposed a wide range of health policy changes that could be the most important changes to the delivery of care in the country since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s. This article provides a summary analysis of the healthcare platforms of the presidential candidates. Specifically, the major components of their published health plan proposals are broken out and compared using the language and descriptions from the candidates. The article also highlights several healthcare reform proposals from health advocacy organizations, as well as insights from medical directors and pharmacy directors across more than 50 major managed care health plans. By framing the issues, the article provides a basis for consideration of more detail as healthcare reform recommendations are developed by Congress in 2009.