Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson has a health care plan that is more geared towards improving the US health care system we already have, rather than creating a new system. Richardson often highlights the idea that every American should have access to the same quality of health care that members of Congress and the President have. He wants to open up existing sources of affordable coverage to more Americans by making the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan available to working families and small businesses and changing Medicare to apply to Americans 55 and older--rather than 65 and older, as the current requirement is. Seniors and those with disabilities will receive all their care through Medicare, rather than through multiple uncoordinated programs as is now the case.
    Richardson also wants to help families pay for coverage with an advance refundable tax credit, based on income, that would help families obtain coverage through the FEHBP or Medicare. Under Richardson's plan all employers will be required to do their fair share to contribute to a healthy and covered work force and all Americans will be required to obtain coverage once reforms are in place.
   Finally, Richardson plans to provide relief from high health costs by passing a Medical Borrowers Fairness Act that would provide immediate relief to families forced to borrow money to pay for medical expenses. He would also like to streamline health care administration through common forms, common reporting requirements, and widespread use of health IT. He will furthermore invest in prevention by addressing the root causes of chronic diseases and improve quality of care through payment systems that reward performance.