Those who have followed Wonks Anonymous since the beginning will know that he has a great deal to say about health policy and the sorry state of health care finance in this country. For this material see the category indexes on Health Policy and Health Insurance in this blog. In his quest to enlighten the world on these important topics he has often felt like a voice ranting in the wilderness.

At last all this ranting seems to have borne fruit, if only by sympathetic magic. In the past few days the Obama campaign has begun a concerted effort to enlighten Americans about the radical nature of John McCain's health plan.

In the short run this plan will make your employer provided health benefits taxable resulting in an effective tax increase of $3.6 trillion over the next ten years according to McCain's own economic adviser. In the long run it is designed to drive you off of employer provided insurance and into the ever solicitous and caring arms of health insurance providers.

Where did John McCain get this idea? You might start your research by checking out the 2008 Economic Report of the President - that would be the Bush Administration - chapter 4, pp 106 and following. It starts with the section Moral Hazard and Cost Control. It is admirable how the Republican party recycles its toxic waste.

Operating in a newly deregulated environment, health insurance companies will see to it that you get health individual insurance at unheard of low rates, $5,000 for a family policy. This is less than half of the current cost for employer provided group health insurance, over $12,000 per year. You will be able to purchase this insurance with a tax credit, which credit McCain supporters are already claiming as their only "middle class tax cut".

Or maybe just the very, very healthy will be able to pay for insurance with the tax credit while the rest of us see our employers cancel group policies in the face of steadily increasing costs. Then we can all go out on the individual market and try our luck finding and paying for coverage with our imperfect health.

Enough, but lest you think that Wonks Anonymous is just parroting Obama talking points, please see this post from May 4, 2008. Obama is using Wonks Anonymous material, either consciously or unconsciously. He is most welcome to it. There is nothing more gratifying than to find out that one's hobby horse is being ridden by someone else.