I hope I'm right, too. But, it's just like car insurance. If you own a car, you have to have insurance, thus, the insurance companies have to make it affordable. Heck, I pay $30/mo for my winter beater for liability, and I have a DUI on record. I think we'll see health care costs go way down with either contender.
The problem that I have with McCain's, the way I understand it, is that it's a tax break. First of all, we all know that a break doesn't give you $5000. It takes $5000 off your taxable income. It hopefully puts you in a lower bracket so your tax liability is less and you get more back. But it may make a difference in your liability, it may not. This means that you have to have the money up front for the premium. There's 3 categories that people will fall into with this:
1) The least amount of people: Can afford it and will purchase their insurance
2) Tied with 3: Can afford it but won't buy it, instead blowing the money on things they don't really need because that's how Americans are.
3) Tied with 2: Can't afford it.
That's just my take on it. But if you leave it to people to purchase it on their own, even if you give them a break at the end of the year, the majority won't, for one reason or another. Health insurance is more important than car insurance, IMO. And having car insurance is the law. But, it's not free. And I don't think health insurance should be free, if you're employed. However, it should be very affordable, readily available, and coordinated through your employer. People are just too lazy to set it up, and honestly, too many options are a bad thing. When I'm selling to someone, I give them 2 or 3 options. I don't give them every available option, because they won't be able to make up their mind. I have 2 insurance choices at work. Both are extremely affordable and comparing the plans side to side, it was easy for me to decide. That's how it should be for everyone. McCain's plan does not address any of those concerns.
*Edit* And I just found out McCain's plan is a $2500 tax credit, with $5k for families. He fails to mention that. In fact, and I could be wrong, but I could almost swear I remember him saying for every man, woman, and child.